Suzuki is misguided

Prominent environmentalist David Suzuki proved himself to be ill-informed about immigration and its complexity.

He is not only wrong, but misguided as well.

First, wrong because immigration to Canada is an open choice to the educated and mobile people from all over the world, and not only from the southern countries. No one is forcing the young, ambitious and worldly person to come here.

Canada is a magnet because it offers what most of the world lacks: stability, excellent standard of living and respect for individual rights and choices within the limits of its liberal democratic principles.

The competition for human capital is a feature of modern life, and the international mobile educated class is playing countries against each other in order to get the best deal on immigrating to a specific place. It is not a one-way street anymore.

Second, Canada is not “full.” Statistics show year after year that our demographic realities are heading into a dangerous negative territory as low birthrates and an aging population are serious social and economic problems down the road.

By 2015, all labour growth in Canada will be dependent on foreign workers and immigration. The construction, retail services, health, engineering, agricultural sectors, to name a few, are screaming and pleading with the federal government to open the immigration tabs ever more.

One person of every 35 in the world is now a migrant or an immigrant. Immigration is not about environmental degradation.

“All Idealism is falsehood in the face of necessity,” said Friedrich Nietzsche.

Suzuki should stick with what he knows, and know his limitations.

ELIE MIKHAEL NASRALLAH, Ottawa, Immigration Consultant (ICCRC)