Quote:
Upon arrival in Canada, 18% of newcomers stated that they were unable to converse in either of Canada's official languages. This was because of the high proportion of immigrants arriving from non-English and non-French-speaking countries. Immigrants who could not speak either official language on arrival tended to be in older age groups and were usually admitted under the family class and refugee category. As well, immigrant women were less likely than men to have knowledge of one of Canada's official languages.
Overall, 22% of the immigrants who identified at least one problem during the process of finding a job stated that a lack of skills in either official language was their greatest hurdle in seeking employment. Those who could not converse in English or French were more likely than those who had knowledge of at least one official language to cite language barriers as a major concern (69% versus 16%).
Language was also one of the frequently cited barriers that newcomers faced in the other areas of settlement. Fully 15% of immigrants who identified problems in accessing health care cited language barriers as an issue. As well, 27% of those who experienced problems in the pursuit of further training cited this barrier as the most serious hurdle.
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So if I'm understanding this, 1 in 5 immigrants aren't fluent in English and the ones who do speak English don't consider the language barrier a problem?
Well, I'm shocked.
I can't throw my heritage out there - fact is, my family is entirely from Scottish and Irish roots; so far as I know, all of my ancestors who've lived in Canada came here from another English speaking nation.
All the same, I certainly take no issue with immigrants who enter the country with no more than a basic grasp of one of our languages. I'm well aware that there are those who abuse the system. There are those who abuse the welfare system as well, but I was certainly in favour of it when I was unemployed and needed that money to keep living until I could find a job.
Fact is, if you set up a system that helps people, there are those who will find a way to take advantage of it. Given that we have those big labour shortfalls, does it really make sense to close our borders because of those who don't speak the language very well?
They say the best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in it. I've never been anywhere that didn't speak English or French as an official language, so I've never been able to test that myself, but all the same. I'm in favour of giving folks an opportunity. Whether they take it or not is entirely up to them.