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Immigration Summary
The CFP Constitution outligns many principles and values relevant to the establishment of Immigration guidelines and policies. Of key importance are the over-riding Canadian secular values and beliefs which are foundations of our culture and government. The CFP is proposing a "Provisional Landed Immigrant " status and "Immigration Courts" to help ensure new immigrants fulfill minimum responsibilities, requirements and criteria in order to earn their Canadian citizenship.
- Article 5: Principles of the Party
- Preamble
- International Diversity
- National Diversity
- Secular Values and Beliefs
- Immigration Diversity
- Skills & Expertise Development
- Provisional Landed Immigrant
- Canadian Citizenship & Ancestry
- Immigrant Social Welfare
- Migrant Workers
- Immigrant Court
- Refugees
- Social Benefits
Excerpts from the CFP Constitution:
Article 5: Principles of the Party
5.1.15 We believe in the elimination of discrimination and exploitation, on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexuality, religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, regional location, economic or household status.
5.1.16 We believe in the recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil responsibilities and rights, including freedom of expression, the press, assembly, association, conscience and religion; the right to privacy; and the protection of the individual from oppression by the state.
The CFP recognizes that each person is within themselves unique and different in many respects. People of different backgrounds and perspectives can share common values and beliefs that lead to the formation of distinct cultures and religions that co-exist around the world. However, these different values and beliefs can sometimes lead to significant conflicts between cultures and religions that may undermine the basic national sovereignty of the people and their government.
Consequently, there appears to be only two choices with respect to the types of national sovereignty acceptable to humanity.
One choice is to adopt a pursuit of one global nation wherein the sovereignty of the people will be determined by the strongest culture or religion. Even though there are many people promulgating this mono-sovereignty option, we believe its’ establishment would lead to the loss of millions, if not billions, of lives. It is not human nature to accept only one set of values and beliefs.
The other choice is to pursue a multiplicity of nations wherein the sovereignty of each nation’s peoples will be guided by shared values and beliefs. This option allows for a diversity of cultures and religions to co-exist within distinct national boundaries. But, it also allows for some cultures and religions to exist separately from other groups in other nations. It is this perspective of tolerance of diverse nations that will provide humanity with the flexibility and freedom to pursue its’ natural diversity and creativity, whilst offering social structures as bulwarks against anarchy and intolerance.
The CFP chooses the multiplicity of nations option. We believe that social and political diversity are important factors that teach us to accept our differences rather than fear our differences.
Similarly, we recognizes the Canadian social transitions from our native cultures, Judeo-Christian cultures and the diversification of religious and secular beliefs within Canada. Our founding groups have learned to co-exist in their separate values and beliefs and to respect each other’s heritage. In fact, many other cultures and religions have joined the national fabric of Canada and have mostly integrated into a state of co-existence and tolerance.
Isolation and intolerance towards other cultures and beliefs is not an acceptable Canadian value or belief. This is why Canada has adopted its’ Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has welcomed people from outside its’ more dominant founding cultural heritages.
Nevertheless, there are fundamental human responsibilities, rights and freedoms that supercede cultural and religious values and beliefs in Canada. When a cultural or religious value or belief contradicts or contravenes these human responsibilities, rights and freedoms, it must be rejected or suspended from the doctrine and practices of the group within Canada, and in the lives of Canadian citizens wherever they may be.
This principle of the CFP asserts that the secular value and belief of nationalism takes precedence above cultural and religious values and beliefs with respect to the acceptable values, beliefs, practices, behaviours, governance and laws of the country. Thus, the CFP does not support a mono-theocratic system of national values and beliefs.
Clearly, there must be a broadly accepted secular code of values and beliefs for a society to be able to hold itself together. In a culturally and religiously diverse society, this is extremely important. If distinct cultures or religions cannot accommodate this code, then they cannot likely exist in harmony within the larger society. Either they will be oppressed by the society for not conforming, or they will try to change the society to adopt their values and beliefs.
The prime purpose of this secular principle is to protect and sustain the social diversity and stability of Canadian society. The CFP believes that some values and beliefs can be anti-humanitarian to the extent that they can lead to instability, social conflict or disintegration, genocide or religion or politically based pogroms. Consequently, in order to protect the basic national sovereignty of the Canadian people, it may be necessary to disavow some values and beliefs that may exist in this world. Thus, although the CFP desires to maximize individual and group rights and freedoms, it also recognizes that there can be some limitations to these rights and freedoms. By choosing to live within Canadian society, one must accept responsibilities to respect and abide by Canadian values and beliefs.
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION
Global relocation of people and families is an ongoing process as people seek new lives and opportunities. The causes for people to leave their country of birth are many and varied. Similarly, the reasons for accepting people and families from other nations are many and varied.
Canada’s role in global migration may be based upon altruistic and /or pragmatic goals and strategies. Due to our somewhat isolated geographic location, and our single-nation immediate neighbour, Canada has not had to face massive refugee movements across our borders. Nevertheless, our country represents a desirable destination for many millions of people. However, unrestricted immigration would place an impossible burden upon our country.
Aside from the small number of people unwilling to accept or abide by Canadian values and beliefs, Canada can open its’ doors to a vast assortment of the world’s emigrants. Thus, it is important that we develop immigration goals and strategies that compliment our Human Resource Development goals and strategies.
It is apparent from race and religious riots and unrest in many countries around the world, that many large immigrant groups have not integrated into existing national cultural hegemonies, nor have these in-situ cultures adequately integrated with the immigrants. In most instances, near-term workforce needs or opportunities were not balanced with long term national cultural visions.
So far, Canada’s apparently noble experiment in “Multi-Culturalism” has not resulted in race or religious riots. Nevertheless, there is increasing tension due to the inevitable desire for some cultures and religious groups to prefer to live in mono-cultural neighbourhoods. Although this preference is strongest amongst first generation immigrants, there are many groups in Canada in their fourth and fifth generation that prefer their mono-cultural communities.
The ideal vision of second or third generation multi-cultural integration is just not happening on a large scale in Canada. More Canadians fear cultural disintegration than those who look forward to cultural assimilation. Thus, Canada is more likely to evolve as a diverse “co-cultural” society in parallel with the evolution of “co-cultural” nations.
With over 70% of Canadians reporting a Christian heritage, it is only natural that this majority of Canadians would prefer to add to their personal cultural and religious heritage when developing Immigration goals, strategies and policies. Similarly, the minority cultures and religious groups will have a natural inclination towards increasing their representation in the social fabric of the nation. Thus, to impose a cultural or religious criteria in Immigration selection processes is to favour either the existing cultural mosaic or to promote a change to our cultural mosaic.
The CFP respects Canada’s cultural heritage and encourages Canada’s cultural groups to grow and develop according to their visions and goals. However, cultural and religious Immigration criteria would appear to be incongruous with Canada’s support for cultural and religious freedoms and diversity.
Our National Immigration Policies should be supporting and aligned with our National Human Resources vision, goals and strategies. In turn, these will compliment our National Vision. Of course, Immigration criteria might include such things as needs for specific workforce skills, or humanitarian relief, or economic growth or social compassion or regional development or family re-unification, etc. Similarly, it is important that our policies include the duties and responsibilities required of new immigrants, and a limited period of assessment of their ability to effectively integrate into Canadian society.
The CFP is committed to establishing Immigration policies that will provide Canada with new citizens that respect and value our way of life and accept their responsibility to personally contribute to the overall benefit of our nation.
CITIZENSHIP
Children born to Canadian citizens have a natural and legal right to Canadian citizenship.
The following outlines some principles and provisions being considered by the CFP.
Immigrants may apply for Canadian citizenship, following their being granted provisional landed immigrant status. A provisionally landed immigrant is a foreign national temporarily granted the privilege to live and work in Canada for three to five years. During this period, they may not leave the country to live elsewhere for more than 60 consecutive days per year, or up to 150 days absence from Canada within the five-year period. Failure to comply with this requirement, or failure to be granted a Minister’s Pardon, will immediately forfeit their right to landed immigrant status. Children born in Canada to provisionally landed immigrants will be allowed to apply for Canadian citizenship once their parent(s) are granted Canadian citizenship.
After three years of residency, provisionally landed immigrants become landed immigrants and may apply for Canadian citizenship. From landed immigrant status, Canadian citizenship should require a further three year’s residency, the taking of an Oath of Loyalty, and the passing of a basic knowledge, (equivalent to Grade 4?), reading, writing and speaking language test in either official language.
Canadian Citizenship & Ancestry
A key issue for Canada is the loyalty of an immigrant born elsewhere. First generation immigrants will find it very difficult to overcome their natural loyalty to their birthplace. In fact, Canadian may mentally become their secondary nationality. Also, their children will most likely be encouraged to consider their parent’s original nationality as either their primary or secondary nationality. The immigrant’s grandchildren will likely identify with being primarily Canadian with another ancestry. Commonly in Canada, even fifth generation or older generation Canadians still respect and carry some loyalty to their ancestry heritage.
An issue that the Canadian government must address occurs when an immigrant doesn’t sever their political connection with their birth nation. The CFP believes that when an immigrant, or even a Canadian citizen, becomes involved in unsanctioned foreign political activities, Canada’s foreign political affairs become compromised. Consequently, foreign residents in Canada may not lawfully become involved in foreign political affairs while residing within Canada or while enrolled in the landed immigrant or citizenship processes.
The CFP believes that Canadians have a responsibility to provide interim assistance for immigrants who are unable to provide for themselves due to: economic depravation, lack of employment opportunities, physical illness or mental illness.
Nevertheless, immigrants should be made aware that there are responsibilities that must be accepted in order to live and work in Canada. It is part of Canadian heritage that this country has a diverse and sometimes hostile climate. Also, Canada is dependant upon other countries for many natural resources and foods not produced here. Thus, all Canadians must accept responsibility to provide for themselves as best they can, and to provide what they can to support the building of this nation. It is an expectation of fellow Canadians that we all should be industrious in our pursuit of a livelihood.
The CFP believes that Canadians respect those who accept personal responsibility for their economic independence. It is also our belief that persons who refuse or are unable to accept this personal responsibility should still have access to government or charitable foundations’ housing, clothing, food-services and medical provisioning.
In order to achieve landed immigrant status, an immigrant must prove their ability to provide for themselves and their dependents. Consequently, they must not be dependent upon Canada’s social welfare system for at least 2/3 rds of their provisionary period and their citizenship application period. Up to 24 months of unsubsidized or subsidized schooling and/or job training may be added to their provisionary period in order to achieve this social welfare independence criterion.
Canada has in place special programmes whereby workers are permitted into the country to help with seasonal agricultural needs. These workers may apply to have their time as migrant workers applied to the time required for provisionary landed immigrant status.
In light of the fact that by definition, provisionary landed immigrants and those applying for Canadian citizenship are not Canadians, it would be prudent to handle legal proceedings for these people in immigrant courts designed to expeditiously deal with individual situations and circumstances. The CFP expects that those who are intent upon becoming Canadian citizens will take steps to avoid contravention of Canadian laws and to follow regulatory guidelines.
Consequently, those convicted of criminal offences will be subject to immediate deportation, deportation after imprisonment, or imprisonment and re-initiation of their provisionary status. Appeals to criminal convictions may only be conducted after deportation of the offender. Other offences under the Immigration Act may carry similar sentences; however, appeals may be processed within nine months whilst the immigrant remains in Canada. After nine months the immigrant will be deported and the appeal may be conducted in absentia.
Although Canada has not had to deal with the problems of large refugee camps within its’ borders, the CFP believes that Canadians want to help people displaced from their homeland. The CFP supports the development of a Refugee Research and Assistance Agency to determine how Canada can play a stronger role in providing for the needs of refugees.
Since government social benefits are paid from taxes paid by Canadians, such funds are rightly owed to tax paying Canadians during their times of misfortune. However, our cultural heritage also allows for us to help those less fortunate Canadians who can not work due to a wide variety of legitimate reasons.
Clearly, Canada may grant refugees and provisionally landed immigrants basic social benefits to help needy persons get on their feet, but this must be provided more as an interim charitable assistance than an entitlement.
Social Security allowances may be paid to such people for up to 36 months, but after that they would be expected to find gainful employment or face an immediate return to their homeland.
Old Age Pension payments are funded by workers over their lifetime in Canada. These funds would not be available to non-contributors and persons contributing for less than 10 years.
| Immigration has greatly added to Canada's development and cultural diversity. In turn, we have acquired greater understanding and tolerance towards other peoples and nations. |
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