More than double the length of its predecessor, the 146-page Welcome to Canada booklet produced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada is chock full of colour photos and personal testimonies, unlike the previous incarnation introduced in 2007.
Postmedia News obtained an advance copy of the document that will be made available to newcomers online and through settlement service providers who often greet immigrants at the airport when they arrive. It will also be available online to download and as an eBook.
It includes, for the first time, references to marriage fraud and human smuggling — two areas in which the federal government has launched a crack down in recent years.
“It is a crime to marry Canadian citizens or permanent residents only to gain entry into Canada,” the book states. “Canadian citizens or permanent residents found to be part of a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes may be charged with a crime.”
A section devoted entirely to “human trafficking” describes it as a “terrible crime” that often involves women and children being exploited for sex, and urges newcomers to report suspected incidents to the police.
Like the Discover Canada guide released in 2011 for those studying to pass their Canadian Citizenship test, the guide for newcomers contains strong language condemning “barbaric cultural practices” like spousal abuse, honour killings, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
A section on family law also explains that “there are laws against being married to more than one person at a time” and “you cannot come to Canada with more than one spouse even if you were married to more than one person in the past.” While the previous booklet referenced polygamy, this one uses much more basic language to explain the outlawed practice that surged to prominence in 2011 when the B.C. Supreme Court upheld Canada’s polygamy laws
Unlike its predecessor — which contained no references to Canada as a constitutional monarchy — this one contains an entire section on Canada’s royal connection, complete with photos of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It’s not the first time the Conservatives have sought to give more prominence to Canada’s head of state. The government previously stirred controversy by ordering embassies to display the Queen’s portrait and including the words “Royal” and “Her Majesty’s” in military references.
The guide also has a new section on the Canadian Forces that notes Canada’s role during the First and Second World Wars and encourages newcomers to learn more about Canada’s military history. It also explains that immigrants can serve part-time in local navy, army or air force reserves as well as in the Coast Guard or as police officers or firefighters. The section features a photo of Lt-Col. Harjit Sajjan, the first Sikh to command a Canadian army regiment.
Like it’s predecessor, the guide also notes the legality of same-sex marriage, although the topic is now under the heading “your rights and freedoms in Canada” rather than “sexual orientation.”
The booklet contains a single reference to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, compared to two in the previous booklet, and also makes reference to the Bill of Rights. The Conservatives have been criticized for downplaying the role of the Charter, which was entrenched in the Constitution by then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau. It’s also not the first time the Conservatives have referenced the Bill of Rights, former Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker’s precursor to the Charter.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also gets a mention for the first time as the booklet notes that the Queen has “known all 11 prime ministers from “Louis St-Laurent (1948-56) to Stephen Harper (2006-).”
The latest version of Welcome to Canada does not include the lyrics to O Canada, but does contain more information about the country’s geography and history than the previous version. It also includes handy check lists for newcomers before they arrive, during their first two weeks in Canada and first two months in the country. Nick Noorani, a native of India who was initially disappointed with his prospects when he arrived in Canada who soon found work in his field also offers his “seven success secrets for Canadian immigrants.” Noorani has previously shared his experiences in a book, magazine and seminar series.
Little blurbs about the experiences and contributions of real immigrants — like Michel Cubric of Brazil who went back to school to become a mortgage broker or Hong Kong-born Maggie Ip who co-founded an immigrant service organization — also offer a unique touch.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney will officially release the guide Tuesday in Vancouver during a press conference with Noorani. He will also unveil a new online tool to help newcomers create a customized plan to assist with settlement and integration.
Original Article
Source: nationalpost.com
Author: Tobi Cohen
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