Close Reading

More BS from a supposedly neutral balanced media outlet. At least when the CBC have a panel they have one from each party. Here are the facts. The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab is the current Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. She was appointed to the role in May 2025 by Prime Minister Mark Carney following the April 2025 federal election. Her current activity is defined by a shift toward more restrictive and "talent-focused" policies. Here is the technical breakdown of her recent initiatives: 1. 2026 Express Entry Overhaul On February 18, 2026, Diab announced significant adjustments to the Express Entry system. The primary objective is to transition from broad intake to "sustainable levels" while addressing specific labor gaps. * New Categories: Streams were added for researchers, senior managers, transport occupations (pilots/mechanics), and foreign military personnel recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces. * Medical Priority: A specific category was introduced for foreign medical doctors already possessing Canadian work experience. * Tightened Requirements: She doubled the category-specific work experience requirement from 6 months to 12 months. This move is designed to narrow the candidate pool and prioritize those with deeper integration into the Canadian labor market. 2. Legislative Reform (Bill C-12) Diab is currently championing a major immigration and border security bill (C-12), which is moving through its third reading in the Senate as of February 26, 2026. * Executive Power: The bill grants the Governor in Council (acting on cabinet advice) broad authority to vary, cancel, or suspend immigration documents and applications in the "public interest." * Asylum Restrictions: Diab has been vocal about curbing what she terms "fraudulent" claims. The legislation proposes making anyone who has been in Canada for over a year ineligible to claim asylum, and it restricts claims from those entering via land borders outside official ports of entry. 3. Shift in Strategy The Minister’s rhetoric marks a pivot from previous Liberal administrations. Her current messaging focuses on "taking back control" of immigration levels. While she continues to promote the recruitment of "the best and brightest," she has explicitly stated the government's goal is to reduce the total annual number of both permanent and temporary residents. Summary Table | Focus Area | Recent Action | |---|---| | Express Entry | Increased experience threshold to 12 months; added military/researcher streams. | | Asylum Policy | Supporting Bill C-12 to restrict claims made after 1 year of residency. | | Staffing | Recently appointed Isaac MacDonald (former P.E.I. Liberal executive) as Director of Parliamentary Affairs.

At least they are entering legally, what about the colonisation done by the europeans?

Could Canada Win a Trade War?\n Trump has waged Economic War on Canada in order to bring us to our knees so that we will eventually capitulate to become the 51st state.\n\n Had he come in a nice way, as a friend verses a foe, he would have had a lot more interest, especially from Alberta. \n\n Now that we are here, the question has to be asked, can we actually win a trade war that has probably been extensively war-gamed by the U.S.?\n\n Our politicians want us to go toe to toe with a 900 lb gorilla. The U.S. economy is at least 10 times our size and are less dependent on our trade than we are. We may give them a black eye but they could rip our arms and legs off. \n\n Retaliatory tariffs play into their hands. It’s the perfect excuse to increase the tax to 50 or 100%. So will we do the same? This would devastate us, achieving their goals.\n\n Canadians are already fighting back without the government making things worse. People are boycotting U.S. goods en masse and cancelling travel plans, etc. and this is already having a strong effect.\n\n Some say turn off the electricity and oil, but who will pay price? It will be the businesses and employees, not the politicians who are now trying to act tough. If we want this to turn into a real kinetic war, then turning off the taps may do it. \n\n We have seen countless times where politicians tell us what we want to hear, making us think they are heading is a certain direction, only to find they do the exact opposite. This proves you can not believe what career politicians say and have to go by what they do, or don’t do, instead. Yet now, they confidently declare that Canada will never become the 51st state. This should raise eyebrows. \n\n Almost all of the MPs and Premiers are unanimous in entering into a trade war we can not win. After tariffs go ballistic, our dollar drops to .35 cents, and we get utterly crushed, I can see them say, “in order to save what’s left of our economy and society we must reluctantly join the U.S. or face certain destruction”. \n\n Not only would the decades old goal of a North American Union be accomplished, but we would take a large step towards the video statement that the World Economic Forum - WEF posted on their website. “By 2030, you will own nothing and be happy”. \n\n The WEF is working with the UN to achieve their Agenda 2030 goals and is what Pierre Poilievre and the “Conservatives” signed Canada onto Sept. 27, 2015. This is what Trudeau has been implementing. Mark Carnie, Pierre, and Jagmeet Singh would finish off the job. Read the redistribution of wealth goal #10. Are you feeling poorer yet? Remember, one has to dig deeper to see through the document’s ultimate double speak written for public consumption. \n\n There is much more going on than meets the eye. Our best defence is to not play into their hands. A much better plan needs to be developed by minds who see the big picture for creative solutions, and it does not seem to be those in office now

I was born in Canada in the 80s. My parents are from India. So call me racist if it gets you off. My ass is browner than yours probably. \nMy parents, and my uncles and aunts who came here in the late 1970s had to work their asses off to prove they were worthy of even ENTERING Canada, let alone to live in the country. ALL of my older male relatives who came to Canada at that time had a PhD in a science related field or was a medical doctor. EVEN then, they had to go through years of re-training in Canadian schools in order to have a shot at PR. And they persevered and did it, and did well. \nNow, anyone and their dog is allowed in, and it's kind of an insult to all my relatives had to accomplish in order to build a life here. They had to earn doctorates and medical degrees TWICE (once in India and again in Canada).\nWell, that generation did well, and now we're the kids who are grateful and enjoying the sacrifice they put in. What will the kids of illiterate, minimum wage workers be like? Probably not so good.\nCanada's probably done. But does the average Canadian have any desire to do anything. Nope. They used to value hard work and ambition when I was growing up but Canadian culture has become lack of ambition, and entitlements just for existing. \nSo, at least I was raised with the idea of working to no end and sacrificing in order to accomplish something in life. Now, I have the resources to live where I like and do. Canada's just a place I visit now if I feel like it.\nThose of you who like to sit at Tim Horton's every weekend with your beer and weed every night complaining about how your employer should pay you more obesity privileges, enjoy being served by the migrants who WILL take over as you approach the counter in your government funded scooter. You all reaped what you sowed. Most Canadians WELCOMED socialism and their wish came true. Peace.

Not only are they entering illegally, many that are in the U.S. illegally or legal are just looking at there phones and not even attempting to assimilate and learn English. I have noticed that almost every foreign speaking person is just looking at their phones and listening to media in their own language. If I was seeing some watching English media or at least trying to learn the language it would at least be a step in the right direction, but they ignore everything in English! Social media has a stranglehold on American culture!! There are several Spanish speaking groups being brought in to work in retail and grocery stores and it's just the same thing, they don't know hardly a word of English. If they come here even legally, they should be learning English, we shouldn't have to learn Spanish in our own country or whatever language they are speaking!!!!!Speak English or go back to your own countries, your culture is not our culture! Learn our laws, our history and our ways or stay out of our country!!!

Lack of affordable housing -- lack of housing in general -- is the main reason people already living here are being priced out and why so many refugees and immigrants cannot afford the cost when they move here. When these people come to Canada for a better life and/or to escape the suffering that they were living in, they cannot bring their homes with them. It is the government's responsibility at all levels to ensure that these newcomers have a place to go when they come here. A homeless shelter should not be the answer. Buy up office spaces and convert them (if safe to do so with whatever codes need to be met) into affordable housing units. For years we've been seeing hundreds of news articles about vacancies in office buildings being at all time highs, yet only a handful of them are being converted. 500,000 people a year entering a country where there isn't enough housing for them (let alone the people living here already) is irresponsible on the government's part. If this is your pledge, at least give these people a better life and not send them to shelters or onto the streets as soon as they arrive. If Canada is to truly be a safe haven for immigrants and refugees escaping their hardships, it's paramount that the government does what it can to make these people actually feel like their life will change for the better. I'm all for immigration since it helps the economy and knowing that Canada can put people in a better position for themselves and their families, but it's the lack of preparation from the governments that makes me question their pledge in this way.

None of this convinced me that the immigration laws in Canada are as bad as in the US. At least Jose and his family were vetted upon entering the country. They weren't immediately arrested and their kids were not ripped from their arms and put in cages. Yes there are strict laws. You need laws. But the laws are not cruel or racist like they are here.