My Candidacy in Calgary Southeast -- A Modest Success

Written by Paul Fromm

Friday, 06 May 2011 07:07

*My Candidacy in Calgary Southeast -- A Modest Success* The votes are all counted, the suspense is over. The election results are in from Calgary Southeast. I had challenged Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and run as a candidate for the Western Block Party. I got 190 votes and Kenney was re-elected. First, I never expected to win. Calgary Southeast is solidly conservative -- as in Consdervative Party -- and, with the exception a few areas, Albertans votes like lemmings. However, every few decades they change directions and lemming-like back another party, as they did provincially in 1971, abandoning 36 years of Social Credit and slamming in a a new Progressive Conservative whopping majority under Peter Lougheed. There was no sign that federally 2011 was going to be one of those change of direction years. Secondly, while I ran all-out, I knew I faced a number of disadvantages: 1. The Western Block Party had no local organization or base in Calgary Southeast. 2. The Western Block Party is not yet well known in Alberta. 3. I was not well known in Calgary Southeast. 4. We had really only four weeks to organize. Both Doug Christie and I had thought that the Liberals would not be suicidal enough to force an election when the polls showed them badly behind and their leader very unpopular. However, we underestimated the attraction of suicide to Canada's once "natural governing party." I thought we'd have a year to organize in the riding. Thirdly, my real goal all along was to raise the immigration issue -- a hard-line, Canada First moratorium on immigration approach -- hopefully, to engage and embarass Jason Kenney and, secondly, to inform a lot of people at the cost of 25 cents on the dollar to our supporters. Due to Canada's election financing laws, donations up to $400 to a federal party or candidate result in a tax credit of 75%; larger donations result in a slightly smaller credit. Thus, someone who can afford a $100 donation can actually give $400. A key to advertising success is repetition. One message once, no matter how brilliant, is not enough. My donors' generosity allowed me to hit every household in Calgary Southeast with four separate one minute immigration reform messages. As well, many voters got my election literature and some will have seen the modest press coverage. The campaign was a success. Over 110,000 people were exposed to the immigration reform message. We attracted some new recruits and supporters. On the negative side, I was unable to attract the hoped-for publicity that would have given the issue greater legs. The anti-democratic policies of Pattison Outdoor Signs prevented me from buying advertising on some Calgary buses and similar policies rejected my paid advertising in a giveaway puiblication called *Coffee News*. Despite a number of press releases, the sleepy Calgary mass media showed no interest in what could have been a dramatic story: "Immigration Critic Challenges Immigration Minister." The media decided that they knew the results in advance and didn't even try to present an interesting story of conflict. Furthermore, there were no all-candidate debates which would have sparked interest and "confrontation" and publicity. Kenney wisely but undemocratically spent much of his time in Brampton, Ontario while ignoring any sort of debate in his own riding. Some people might wonder why the immigration reform message did not attract more votes. The fact is many voters will agree with us on the issue but have a larger concern. One thing I was told repeatedly was that the biggest danger was a minority government where the Liberals would defeat the Tories and then form some sort of coalition and Canada would, thus, be ruled either by the NDP or the Bloc Quebecois. Others feared "wasting" their votes on a small and not well known party. I count the past month's investment on time and money an educational success. Politicians seldom "lead" on issues. They wait until there's a body of opinion and then seek to get in front of that parade. We're just now at the stage of beginning to stimulate that body of opinion. Polls show large numbers of Canadians are upset at both the numbers and makeup of the all-out invasion being orchestrated by our political class. Columnist Salim Mansur (*Toronto Sun*, April 23, 2011) wrote an article entitled "Immigration's the elephant in the room." He noted: "The consensus of the elite -- political players, the media, the government bureaucracy federally and provincially, immigration lawyers and other interest groups -- is that immigration is beneficial. ... Anyone questioning this consensus is muzzled by the fear of being publicly labelled a bigot." The hand of establishment muzzling of debate on immigration in Calgary Southeast was clear. The Tories were successful at targetting their message: a different message for different groups. While Jason Kenney was off shmnoozing Sikhs in Brampton and promising heaven knows what further liberalisation, the folks back home were kept scared of a leftist "coalition." The *Calgary Sun* (April 23, 2011) ran an extraordinary expose of one Walford Uriah Steers . He's a 39 year old Jamaican career criminal, with 73 criminal convictions in this country, who'd been ordered deported. He snuck back in and was recently incarcerated (an unusual move in this looney tunes land) pending deportation. The *Sun* revealed that there are at least 41,000 deperadoes who've been ordered deported and who have just disappearedl; that is, are still here and have gone underground. Their amazing conclusion: "What Steer represents is just the latest dash of reality in a recipe for disaster that has been pressure-cooking since the Liberals under Jean Chretien steered clear of stirring this ugly pot. We're hopeful Steer's case will now blow off the lid, and spew all the ingredients that went into this mess so they can be examined by those with stronger political will. Like the Conservatives, for example, who vow if re-elected with a majority to stop the abuses of our immigration system. The Liberals and the NDP, meanwhile, think they can rehabilitate scorpions, and turn seasoned criminals into social workers." Conclusion: If you're worried about the immigration mess like Mr. Fromm, vote Tory,. When they get their majority, they'll clean things up. That very much remains to be seen. They had a chance with the Tamil Tiger smuggling operations last year and the year before. The Tories stamped their feet, growled and looked tough, but still let the whole lot in. While I'd like to believe a Harper majority might do great things, I doubt it. Are they willing to anger their new-found Third World friends with any form of real reform? But it's not just the abuses, it's the whole replacement scheme all three federal parties seem wedded to. Is there any hint that the Conservatives would massively reduce immigration at a time of high unemployment. If there is, I haven't seen it.

 

I Need My Granny!

Written by Paul Fromm

Monday, 02 May 2011 04:32

*I N**eed My Granny!* While still pressing for accelerated access to old age benefits for elderly immigrants, immigrant communities have lately gone apoplectic over a piffling cut to geriatric immigration: "Vancouver's Asian community is furious over allegations *Immigration Canada *is planning to *dramatically reduce* [5% in fact] the number of visas issued this year for family reunification. The reduction in visas in 2011 cuts to the heart of Asian and South Asian families, who especially cherish the contribution of elders to family life. ... *Charan Gill *of* Progressive Intercultural Community Services* was incensed at the apparent *drastic reduction *in the numbers of parents being allowed to emigrate from India. 'Already we have so many families waiting five, six years to bring parents over. Now, people will die before they see their family in Canada,' said Gill. [You'll all be sorry when I'm dead!] *Thomas Tam*, chief executive officer of *SUCCESS immigrant services*, called the reduced visa numbers 'a big surprise and so disappointing — everyone is angry. Traditionally for Asian immigrants, the reunion with grandparents is very important. Parents rely on them for childcare and our community looks after grandparents. They are not a financial burden.'" (*Montreal** Gazette*, February 10, 2011) Now, is that really true? "According to a report released in October by the *Canadian Institute for Health Information*, Canadians over the age of 65 account for less than 14 per cent of the Canadian population, but consume nearly 44 per cent of all health-care dollars spent by provincial and territorial governments. Brought down to the level of the individual, in 2008, the latest available year for data broken down by age group, provincial and territorial governments spent an average of $10,742 per Canadian age 65 and older, compared to $2,097 on those between age one and 64. Those 80 years and [older] required the most spending, at $18,160 each – more than three times what was spent on seniors younger than age 70 ($5, 828.) The government can’t ignore this reality, especially as the proportion of seniors in the Canadian population is expected to reach 20 per cent by 2026. And as *Kelli Fraser*, a spokesperson for *Citizenship and Immigration* *Canada* points out, even with the reduced visa targets, the government 'will maintain what is probably the most generous family reunification programme for parents and grandparents in the world.' (* Montreal** Gazette*, April 3, 2011) While it's admittedly touching to see newcomers demand free childcare from aged relatives overseas, the cost to taxpayers is unjustifiable where the beneficiary has contributed nothing toward end of life maintenance costs -- either their own or others'. And speaking of financial burdens: "A 2005 *Fraser Institute* report said ... often, their sponsors renege on their financial responsibility to them and government must step in. [The family may or may not actually renege -- it could be one of many established scams; witness the plethora of 'refugees' who arrive here with relatives’ phone number in hand. *Relatives are supposed to sponsor family members, but, come as a 'refugee', and the credulous Canadian taxpayer picks up the freight.* 'Renege' on sponsorship of a family member -- same result]. The report said that 'the relationships break down in about 10 per cent of cases, often because . . . family members have a falling out, and the immigrants sometimes end up on social assistance.' Citing figures from then-Ontario social services minister *Sandra Pupatello*, the report says that in Ontario alone, there were 7,500 fiscally abandoned immigrants on welfare rolls and that 'newcomers who are supposed to be supported by their family members account for about $70 million a year in social assistance.'" (*Calgary** Herald*, February 20, 2011) [This article appears in the April, 2011 issue of the *CANADIAN IMMIGRATION HOTLINE*. Published monthly, the *CANADIAN IMMIGRATION HOTLINE* is available by subscription for $30 per year. You can subscribe by sending a cheque or VISA number and expiry date to *CANADIAN IMMIGRATION HOTLINE*, P.O. Box 332, Rexdale, ON., M9W 5L3.]

 

Why Should Mr. Singh Get More then Mr. Watson?

Written by Paul Fromm

Sunday, 01 May 2011 03:02