Plumbing the depths of the bra

because they envisage a better

IN a 1998 editorial,
Seth Klein, director of
the Canadian Centre
for Policy Alternatives
(CCPA), claimed to be
nonpiussed about the
“Brain Drain Hype,” as
he put it.

Using the kind of faciie
reasoning we have come to
expect from the CCPA, Klein
blamed the “small net out-
tlow of university educated
people” from Canada to the
U.S. on tax cuts, of all things.

According to his editorial,
tax cuts, and in particular
cuts causing the shrinking of
the public sector, are exacer-
bating the insignificant brain
drain, The CCPA, which
seems to equate prosperity
with growing the govern-
ment and the public sector,
likes to think of government
Patronage as a catalyst for
innovation,

They can pretend not to
understand, that most inneva-
tion happens in the private
sector, but the CCPA and its
director Mr. Klein can neo
longer pretend the brain
drain doesn’t exist.

The facts have been
known for some time now.

“The brain drain is real
and costly,” say SFU econo-
mists Don DeVortez and
Samuel Layrea of the Centre
for Research on Immigration
and Integration in the
Metropolis in a 73-page
study.

Between 1982 and 1996,
54,755 highly trained "
Canadians emigrated to the
US. And although Canada
had, during that period,
gained more skilled immi-
grants than it lost, immi-
grants weighed heavily on the
economy.

For one, there was a
marked decline in the quality
of immigrants in the post-
1980s vears: a decline that
has exacerbated the effects of
the outtlow to the US.

Then there were the
administrative and settlement

compient

costs Canada incurred in pro-

cessing immigrants.
And finally, skilled new-

comers take a decade or more

to catch up to those who
feave in terms of earning,
potential.

DeVortez and Layrea put
the cost to the Canadian
economy of the outflow for
the period spanning 1982-
1992 at $12.6 billion.

On average, the study
concludes, skilled immigrants
were no match tor Canadian-
trained emigrants in terms of
the losses to the Canadian
economy.

Bur could the movement
of skilled workers to the U.S.
be nothing more than a tem-
porary to-and-fro to be
expected between two coun-
tries joined at the hip by
NAFTA?

Can we not expect movers
who leave on a temporary
work permit to return to
Canada?

Nor likely, say the authors.
The North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
has made conversion of tem-
porary work permits to per-

yyisai toa 1

manent residency an casy and
streamlined process,
Temporary movers to the
U.S. are thus making their
stay a permanent one with
tew bureaucratic hitches.

Nonvithstanding the cost
ofthe brain drain to the
Canadian economy, | would
ask readers to pay careful
atiention fo the reasons
DeVortez and Layrea give tor
the brain drain, and their
attendant proposals to
staunch the flow.

Why?

Because the thinking
behind it is about punishing
Canadians for wanting to
make a better fife for them-
selves away from Canada.
The thinking behind the ree-
ommendations in this paper
shows that in addition to los-
ing our brains we seem to be
losing our minds.

In explaining why skilled
Canadians are leaving for the
US., DeVortez and Layrea
keep fingering “the size of
the educational subsidy
received by Canadian gradu-
ates that is taxpayer-
financed.”

The logic is strange and
can only exist in the arid
arena of pure academia: the
typical Canadian-born profes-
sional “would not be moti-
vated to move if there existed
no educational subsidy.”

Since it would be stupid
to stop subsidizing education
— the Americans subsidize
their students — the authors

propose a forgivable loan
scheme. Under this scheme, a
graduate would have to stay
in Canada until he has paid

taxes equal to the principal of

his fean.

If the individual leaves
prior to that, the authors pro-
pose to force him to repay
the residual of the education-
al loan. In other words if you
stay you are OK — if you
leave vou pay!

Ar the sane time, the
authors propose to refine
immigration practices to
make inunigrants compensate
better for the exodus of
Canadian talent, even going
so far as to propose giving
skilled immigrants an income
tax rebate.

This naturally is a pood
thing. What is bad is the
punitive spiteful stance adopt-
ed towards prospective
Canadian leavers.

Why are suggestions for
improving what Canada can
do for skitied immigrants not
balanced with suggestions to
improve things for skilled
Canadians so that they don’t
flee?

What we have here
amounts to a further devalua-
tion of talented upwardly
mobile Canadians.

My guess is that such
schemes are doomed because
they fail to consider the real
complexion of human ambi-
tion and motivation.

Do the authors think that
individuals incent on leaving

Stage set for theatre upgrade

expanded lobby area for patrons.

Dear Editor:
As the Centennial

Theatre
Committe chairman [amt pleased to comment
on a recent letter in the North Shore News.
North Vancouver City council earlier this year
unanimously approved $1.8 million for theatre
renovations to make it accessible for all indi-
viduals, ‘Chis will inchide the addition of wheel-
chair-accessible washrooms, an elevator to all
levels, inereasea public and performer wash-
fooms, more rehearsal space as well as an

Renovation

The volunteer committee overseeing the
changes to the building includes individuals
with mobility problems and performers who
regularly use the building.

While those with disabilities have had to
wait over 33 years to gain proper access to the
building, it will soon be brought up to an
acceptable standard for all.

Councillor Darrell Mussatto
North Vancouver City

An addition is being proposed for Argyle Secondary School at 1131 Frederick Road and
you are invited to join North Vancouver School District #44 and Grant and Sinclair

Architects at a meeting to discuss the project.

April 29
7:00 pm. Formal Presentation to begin at 7:30 pm

Date:
Time:

Location: Argyle Secondary School, [131 Frederick Road, North Vancouver

The proposed development involves the construction of a new library and cafeteria with the
renovation of existing ares to provide additional classrooms, enhanced music facilities and
improved accessibility features including an elevator. This addition will allow for the
removal of most, if not all, portable classrooms and an increase in the number of parking

spaces.

The meeting is being held by the applicants in compliance with District of North Vancouver
policy. The applicants will present details of the proposals and discuss any concerns

residents may have.

information packages are being distributed to the residents within 350 m of the site. If you

would like to receive a copy or if you would like more information, contact the District of
“North Vancouver Community Planner, Paula Huber at 990-2328 or John Lewis at 903-

3444, or Paul Grant at 681-9191 or bring your questions and comments to the meeting.

This is not a Public Hearing. Council will receive a report from staff on issues raised at the
meeting and will formally consider the proposal at a later date.

Friday, Aprit 23, 1999 ~ North Shore News — 7

lite for themselves will be
stopped in their tracks by the
foreclosure of a student Joan?

The UBC Alumni has
posted a brain drain ques-
tionnaire on its Web page in
which it has invited com-
ments from people who have
left.

If anything, these ance-
dotes flesh out the skeletal
thesis DeVortez and Lavrea
offer as to why graduates are
leaving.

The reasons cited by the
alumni for migrating to the
US. are countless: trom the
prospects of doubling take-
home pay duc to low taxes,
to job opportunities, fewer

in drain

unions, fewer strikes and the
high premium placed on
rewardinu merit.

The overriding theme is
one of escaping the sludge of
socialism.

But the words of one
expatriate are particularly
poignant: “Countries that are
on the foretront of ianoeva-
tion want to keep their
brains.”

Canada, wrote this exile, is
looking merely to balance
immigrants with emigrants.
This smart expatriate seems
to have captured the thrust of
the policy recommendations
in the DeVoretz and Layrea
paper.

— quome@aticanada.net

ee | g [99

feiskiawat | kG

i Asterces ‘II, Vel & Fitter
fully warrenty = =21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST!
approved Inctudes up to 5 litres of 1 Ow 30 Quakerstate
1362 Marine Drive 980-9nNS
Mon-Sat 8:00armn-6:0Cpm, Sun. 9:00arn-5 00pm Expires May 5/99 j

DAYS!

a PAUST SELL. |
iUP TO 75% Orr!

Extra 20% off with this coupon 4

TRS,

INE. 228 Lonsdale Ave?

DESIGN North Vancouver

(604) 984-3012 ,

Offer expires Aprit 30/09
Limit | per customer. No cash value

Imagine...Shopping at Home
Draperies * Bedding « Valances
¢ Upholstery ¢ Blinds 2

| Creative Window Coverings & Home Decorating Ideas
2413 Marine Dr., West Van 922-4668