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香蕉视频直播檚 Party of Canada - Kelowna-Lake Country), though not present, did send a proxy in Peter Neville, the president of the Kelowna-Lake Country People香蕉视频直播檚 Party of Canada riding association.

And it was him 香蕉视频直播� as well as his party 香蕉视频直播� who drew the ire of some of the crowd, several of whom belonged to the groups being discussed.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to recognize that certain parts of immigrants cause large expenses for Canadian taxpayers,香蕉视频直播� said Neville.

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� and NDP candidate Justin Kulik 香蕉视频直播� who called his position 香蕉视频直播渟hameful.香蕉视频直播�

Kulik, however, turned his aim instead to the Liberal candidates, calling the current temporary foreign workers program 香蕉视频直播渂roken.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淎n NDP government would make sure that immigration policies and levels meet Canada香蕉视频直播檚 labour force needs and to recognize people香蕉视频直播檚 experience, contribution and ties to Canada,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l work with the provinces to address gaps in settlement services and to improve foreign credentials recognition.

香蕉视频直播淲hat we香蕉视频直播檙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,香蕉视频直播� he said.

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

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 have enough skilled (workers); we don香蕉视频直播檛 have enough unskilled workers,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need to get people here because it helps them, it helps us, and it香蕉视频直播檚 mutually beneficial for everyone.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭here are too many people that are waiting for their spouse and for their family members because of the long wait that happens,香蕉视频直播� Albas said.

香蕉视频直播淧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.香蕉视频直播�

The Green Party香蕉视频直播檚 Robert Mellalieu (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) said the temporary foreign worker program needs to be abolished and replaced with a path to citizenship.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e bringing in temporary foreign workers because we don香蕉视频直播檛 feel like paying fruit pickers the proper wages and giving them the proper conditions,香蕉视频直播� Mellalieu said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd they say we can香蕉视频直播檛 find workers. Yeah, we can香蕉视频直播檛 find workers that will work at that wage.香蕉视频直播�

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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