Candidates from both Central Okanagan ridings met at the Kelowna Downtown Library on Saturday (Sept. 22) to discuss immigration, refugees and migrant workers with their potential constituents.

Nine of the 12 candidates from both Kelowna-Lake Country and Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola showed up to the forum, which was sponsored by Amnesty International: Kelowna, KAIROS (BC-Yukon) and Citizens for Public Justice.

The format of the forum saw each party given 10 minutes to tackle all three issues followed by a session of audience-submitted questions.

John Barr (People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada - Kelowna-Lake Country), though not present, did send a proxy in Peter Neville, the president of the Kelowna-Lake Country People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada riding association.

And it was him 害羞草研究所� as well as his party 害羞草研究所� who drew the ire of some of the crowd, several of whom belonged to the groups being discussed.

害羞草研究所淲e have to recognize that certain parts of immigrants cause large expenses for Canadian taxpayers,害羞草研究所� said Neville.

害羞草研究所淭here are some (immigrants) who do not benefit (Canada) very much. We want to limit the sponsorship to people who are in the immediate family immigrating to Canada. That means that parents, grandparents and so on, have to come in on their own merits,害羞草研究所� Neville said.

He continued, saying that immigrants are a burden to our medical and welfare systems, which caused several reactions from members of the crowd 害羞草研究所� and NDP candidate Justin Kulik 害羞草研究所� who called his position 害羞草研究所渟hameful.害羞草研究所�

Kulik, however, turned his aim instead to the Liberal candidates, calling the current temporary foreign workers program 害羞草研究所渂roken.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎n NDP government would make sure that immigration policies and levels meet Canada害羞草研究所檚 labour force needs and to recognize people害羞草研究所檚 experience, contribution and ties to Canada,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l work with the provinces to address gaps in settlement services and to improve foreign credentials recognition.

害羞草研究所淲hat we害羞草研究所檙e proposing, is allowing these people that are coming to Canada to work a pathway to becoming Canadian citizens. We want to be able to offer them permanent residency. We want them to be able to call Canada home if they so choose,害羞草研究所� he said.

Liberal candidate Stephen Fuhr (Kelowna-Lake Country) said the current program has helped Canada grow its workforce.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 have enough skilled (workers); we don害羞草研究所檛 have enough unskilled workers,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e need to get people here because it helps them, it helps us, and it害羞草研究所檚 mutually beneficial for everyone.害羞草研究所�

Conservative candidate Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) said his party would look to expand and improve integration services such as language training as well as an simpler immigration process.

害羞草研究所淭here are too many people that are waiting for their spouse and for their family members because of the long wait that happens,害羞草研究所� Albas said.

害羞草研究所淧art of it is by design, to make sure that everything goes ahead first, but part of is also is that there are a lot of challenges in the system. The system, currently, right now is overrun.害羞草研究所�

The Green Party害羞草研究所檚 Robert Mellalieu (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) said the temporary foreign worker program needs to be abolished and replaced with a path to citizenship.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e bringing in temporary foreign workers because we don害羞草研究所檛 feel like paying fruit pickers the proper wages and giving them the proper conditions,害羞草研究所� Mellalieu said. 害羞草研究所淎nd they say we can害羞草研究所檛 find workers. Yeah, we can害羞草研究所檛 find workers that will work at that wage.害羞草研究所�

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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