Woman left stateless by Canada -- Has anyone heard this covered on CBC or others

[dccanus]

We've had some discussions in here recently about broadcasters who wanted to go to Canada to live/work. I think attitudes on immigration matters of all sorts up north are changing rapidly for the negative....both for those who want to immigrate the normal way, with a job, but also for those who are refugees. :-\ :-\

I was shocked to read a major story on the front page of Vancouver Sun yesterday.....about a woman stranded in El Salvador by Canadian border agents...and how they seemed to have played dirty tricks [according to article] and circumvented their orders, failing to return her to Canada and abandoning her in an airport when her country of origin refused to take her back. Apparently now, she is homeless and not allowed to leave the airport. Shocking! I'm wondering if anyone has heard interviews or other coverage on CBC or other Canadian radio programs? :-\ :-\ or seen anything about this on Canadian TV?

If so, please give me dates/times/stations etc so I can look it up. I'm trying to follow the story and see how much coverage it gets.

Thanks,



The story....
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=9b4ead72-54b2-4dff-807a-a5cc7897bdd2


Edited to add link to article.

 

[Inventor989]

This is the first I've heard of this story (I'm in Columbus, Ohio and listen to Canadian radio regularly). I asked my stepmother, who lives near Hamilton, Ontario, she has not heard this story, either.

On the related subject of American immigration to Canada for radio work: even though my father and stepmother are (were) dual citizens, and were willing to sponsor my landed immigrancy, I could never get any relaxation of the CRTC's anti-American/pro-Canadian work legislation on my behalf. Those regulations went into effect in the 70s. The CRTC's rules state that Americans can be hired only if the broadcaster proves to the government's satisfaction that no Canadian citizen is available that can do the job.

There were three occasions over the years where Canadian broadcasters were interested in hiring me, but were unable to satisfy the CRTC mandate. It no longer is of interest to me now, as my father passed away late last year. But, as I was growing up, CKLW was an icon, and I thought Toronto radio was the best sounding anywhere. I would have loved working at CKLW, CHUM or CFTR in the 70s, or CFNY, CHUM-FM, Q107, Mix, etc in the 80s or 90s. Unfortunately for me, Canada decided to go all paranoid about America just as I was coming of age.

 

[Leesmith1]

Hi Inventor:

I used to work at "The Big 8" as an operator in late '69 and early '70 ... what a great place to be at the time!

Just a point of clarification though ... and let me make it clear I'm far from being a friend of the CRTC, but they don't have regs regarding who can be hired. The clowns at the CRTC ruined CKLW by not cutting them any slack on the dreaded CANCON music regs. Always used to REALLY p me off after getting great playlist momentum going to have to stick in an Ann Murray just to satisfy a regulation foiseted on us by some ------ politician who was just seeking an extra hundred votes from the artiste community.....who aren't civic minded enough to drag their sorry butts out of bed and get to a polling booth anyway.

The problem you faced at the time was from the Dept of Immigration and it is the same for Canucks seeking employment in the USA in any field of endevour ... they need to know that before they issue a work visa to anyone from outside the country, that a national isn't out there looking for work.

If you haven't discovered it yet, take a look at "The Classic CKLW Page" http://www.thebig8.net/ Lots of stories, airchecks, and the Johnny Mann Singers jingle package which I digitized from a first generation dub of the master back when doing such a thing and posting it to the Internet was a technical wonder.

I also highly recommend the DVD about CKLW called "Radio Revolution - The Rise and Fall of The Big 8" which is mentioned on the CKLW page .... REALLY worth the money.

All the best to you.

Lee Smith

 

[dccanus]

There are many situations though, where a person could either immigrate or have a work permit with an "open" status.

I know someone in this situation, and employers were not any more friendly to him. 21 months later, still unemployed in Canada.

It would seem that there is massive employer sentiment against hiring anyone who isn't Canadian born and educated in most white collar fields. It's a shame that Canada lets newcomers believe their talents will be used...and then they get here and can't find a job.

They literally ruin the lives of many immigrants and temporary work permit holders, whom many times leave a few years later bankrupt.

 

[gr8oldies]

I do remember reading a heklp-wanted ad from CKLW for a newsperson in R&R (very early 80s) which specified Canadian citizens only.