Canada risks race riots, study warns - Former diplomat calls for immigration-policy overhaul

Peter O'Neil The Ottawa Citizen

9/2002

Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver could suffer race riots unless there are major changes to a federal immigration policy that blatantly misleads Canadians about the program's benefits, says an explosive new Fraser Institute study to be released today.

Author Martin Collacott warns Canada's reputation as a tolerant society could be undermined, not because people are racist but because those in major cities -- including existing immigrant populations -- are feeling overwhelmed.

Soaring populations in major urban areas are raising concerns about pollution, traffic congestion and pressures on the health and education systems.

"While there is no evidence that any Canadian communities are on the verge of experiencing the tensions and riots involving immigrant communities that have taken place in a number of British cities in recent years, it would be folly to assume that such events could never happen in Canada."

The report, described as misleading by one federal official, says Canada's aggressive immigration levels play "at best" a minor role in economic growth and won't off-set the negative impact of Canada's aging population.

The federal government perpetuates these myths because the ruling Liberals win the vast majority of seats in multicultural metropolitan areas, argues Mr. Collacott, former high commissioner to Sri Lanka from 1982-86, former ambassador to Syria and Lebanon from 1990-93, and former ambassador to Cambodia from 1993-95.

An honest debate on the issue is also stifled because politicians and interest groups regularly accuse critics of government policy of being racist, according to the study sponsored by the Vancouver-based think-tank.

"The government has shown little inclination to date to take a detailed and comprehensive look at how Canadians view current levels of immigration, particularly in the areas of greatest concentration -- Toronto and Vancouver," writes Mr. Collacott.

Total immigration and refugee arrivals to Canada rose from 227,000 in 2000 to an estimated 260,000 last year. The existing plan projects arrivals to total up to 235,000 this year, and the Liberal government ultimately wants annual totals to equal one per cent of Canada's population, or about 300,000.

More than three-quarters of those immigrants go to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, and Immigration Minister Denis Coderre has declared his intent to work with provinces to entice future immigrants to lesser-populated regions.

While Mr. Collacott lauds the intent of that strategy, he questions whether the government could entice or force immigrants to move to regions that existing Canadians don't consider attractive places to live and work.

"If there are no economic opportunities for Canadians in Broken Snowshoe, Saskatchewan, what sense is there of sending a bunch of immigrants there?" he said in an interview yesterday.

Mr. Collacott writes that previous immigration targets used to bear "some relationship" to economic conditions and absorptive capacity, but policy is now driven primarily by political and other special interests.

"In consequence, there is little prospect that we will see the kind of pause that occurred in earlier years between major waves of immigration, which provided time and opportunities for large concentrations of newcomers to be integrated."

Liberal party politics has corrupted the process, according to Mr. Collacott, because the government is showing a preference for family-class immigrants over those with professional or language skills.

"The government's principal reason for promoting high immigration levels in spite of the costs seems to be the belief that most newcomers will vote for the Liberal party in federal elections," writes Mr. Collacott.

"This is particularly true of family-class immigration, which is the least successful category in terms of economic performance and should be significantly curtailed."

Susan Scarlett, a spokeswoman for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, said Mr. Collacott is misleading Canadians by suggesting the department's emphasis is on bringing to Canada family members of existing immigrants.

The total number of "economic" immigrants -- mostly skilled workers and their families -- expected to arrive in Canada this year is about 134,000, while the target for family-class immigrants is 59,000.

"It's clear the focus is not family class," Ms. Scarlett said.

Ms. Scarlett also said there are many studies that show continued high immigration levels are vital to ensure a vibrant workforce. "By 2026, immigration will likely account for all population growth. Immigrants invest in business; they create jobs."

Mr. Collacott said Canadians must debate the issue rationally, but he said little help can be expected from federal opposition parties that are intimidated by the politics of immigration.