Difference in Attitudes

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I just read this article in my former Canadian home town and it struck me once again how strongly the US and Canada differ on their approaches to immigration. Canada wants immigrants and the US seems to be doing everything they can to deter immigration. Interesting.

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1411642

[DeadPoolX 9]

I just read this article in my former Canadian home town and it struck me once again how strongly the US and Canada differ on their approaches to immigration. Canada wants immigrants and the US seems to be doing everything they can to deter immigration. Interesting.

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1411642

I can easily imagine why the U.S. and Canada have such different views on immigration.

Canada needs immigrants. Canada has a "negative birth rate," so to keep all federal and provincial programs running, there needs to be more people within the country. This might also explain why Canada has such a generous maternity leave. The Canadian government wants to encourage population growth. The U.S., on the other hand, would probably like to discourage it.

The U.S. has a lot more people than Canada (the state of California alone has a higher population) with the number rising every year. The U.S. also has an increasingly problematic illegal alien situation and many more security concerns.

[Sprailenes 47]

Agreed the balance of population is completely different in both countries.

[Reba 2]

The U.S., on the other hand, would probably like to discourage it.

And yet they keep breeding

Canada still needs to do more in crediting foreign professionals when they get to Canada. I used to work in the HR office in a manufacturing plant in Toronto, and I can't tell you how many freakin' doctors and other professionals worked on the injection moulding machines, just because they couldn't get acreditation in Canada, they'd have had to attend Canadian medical school first. And they went to quite good universities too; had they immigrated to the US or UK, they'd have been permitted to practice, without much transition except possibly a few classes on local laws and procedures and such.

I know this issue came up several times over the last few years when they consider immigration reform, but I don't know if anything was actually ever done about it. I'm sure there are quite a few communities in rural Canada that would love to have a full time doctor, no matter where they went to university.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Absolutely agree, Reba. The problem isn't Canadian immigration, it is the Provincial regulatory agencies (ie. OMA - Ontario Medical Association) that are practising a form of protectionism - they limit the number of spaces in medical schools, set the standards for foreign trained physicians and then limit their ability to obtain the new requirements so that they can keep the maximum profits for their current members. We had to deal with these situations when I worked for the MP and it was very frustrating. Our community missed out on some good doctors - US trained doctors - because OMA wouldn't recognize their qualifications.

Edited January 31, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Reba 2]

Its totally rediculous, considering the doctor shortage all over Canada.

Do other provinces have the same policies, or is it just Ontario?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Same goes for the USA, not exactly sure how drastic it is. But I know there are many here that were doctors back in their country, but it is not fully recognized here in the USA. One see's many what they call "first assists" in the OR, that were Dr.s back in their country. Yes, some should have their qualification follow them, some should not, not all schools/training is equal, and yes, some schools are superior. I know one of the beefs my sisters have (they are both RN's in canada) is that their hospital hires foreign nurses,and yes their skills are great, BUT they can't speak English!! How would you feel as a patient, you have this RN (or Dr) but cant communicate effectively.

[Reba 2]

I was in hospital in 2004 in Scarborough, and the lady in the bed next to me was Hungarian. They couldn't find ANYONE in the entire hospital to translate for her when her family wasn't there. The poor woman was in teers every night because no one could understand her.

I know dozens of Hungarian families in Toronto and GTA. I find it difficult to believe not a single one of them can be found in Scarborough working in the medical profession.

[Flames9_RN 358]

not sure about in Canada, but here in the USA, one can call AT&T, and they provide translators on the phone. Hospitals here use it quite often. Most hospitals that i have worked at, require a translator to have official medical translation training. AT&T provides that services and works quite well, of course it isn't free!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I was in hospital in 2004 in Scarborough, and the lady in the bed next to me was Hungarian. They couldn't find ANYONE in the entire hospital to translate for her when her family wasn't there. The poor woman was in teers every night because no one could understand her.

I know dozens of Hungarian families in Toronto and GTA. I find it difficult to believe not a single one of them can be found in Scarborough working in the medical profession.

To be fair, Hungarian isn't too common. I know people who speak German, French, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Hebrew and whatever else. I've never met anyone who can speak Hungarian. I'm sure there are people in the U.S. who can, but it's a rarity (unless living in a Hungarian area of the city).

[Reba 2]

Like I said, I know quite a few Hungarians who actually speak it. Immigrants and their first generation offspring do usually. I know more Hungarians in the GTA than Spanish or Hebrew speakers.

[Emancipation 2]

I was in hospital in 2004 in Scarborough, and the lady in the bed next to me was Hungarian. They couldn't find ANYONE in the entire hospital to translate for her when her family wasn't there. The poor woman was in teers every night because no one could understand her.

I know dozens of Hungarian families in Toronto and GTA. I find it difficult to believe not a single one of them can be found in Scarborough working in the medical profession.

To be fair, Hungarian isn't too common. I know people who speak German, French, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Hebrew and whatever else. I've never met anyone who can speak Hungarian. I'm sure there are people in the U.S. who can, but it's a rarity (unless living in a Hungarian area of the city).

I know at least 3 people here in the US

[thetreble 19]

I hate this situation. I think it is silly and that people should spend MORE time learning about what qualifications these immigrants have so that they possibly can be approved to work in their profession here in North America.

Both of my good friend's parents fled from Bosnia during the war to Kitchener, Ontario. They were both psychologists with Masters degrees.

Both of their qualifications were nullified oncei n Canada and Dad had to drive a bus while they put mum through school again.

She's 55 and still paying back school loans from getting her MA and PhD here.

I just feel so sorry for people in that situation that have achieved professional success in their own country that may be equal or even better in ours!

[unstrung 0]

The problem also occurs inter-province. My mother studied for her nursing degree in Ontario and worked in the field a few years. Quebec would not recognize it at all. Had she wanted to continue in her profession she would have had to start schooling ALL OVER again. Ridiculous. And Quebec bitches about it's shortage in health professionals.. Everyone who studies here wants to practice elsewhere and everyone coming in from elsewhere isn't accepted?

[Reba 2]

yeap, that's Canadian Government for ya. SNAFU'd.