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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY February 1 - 15, 2016
HEADLINES
Philippines now largest source of immigrants to Canada
Last year the Philippines overcame China
and India as Canada’s top
source country for new immigrants.
According to the latest
data from the government,
approximately 32,000 Filipinos immigrated to Canada last year. There are currently an estimated 535,000
Filipino Canadians in the
country, though some experts argue that that figure
is in fact much higher.
There are many reasons that Canada has become an attractive desti-
nation for Filipino citizens
seeking opportunities. The
labour shortages, combined with the high quality
of life are attracting record
numbers.
Filipinos bring much to
the table for Canadian employers as well. Most citizens
are quite adept at speaking
English, one of the biggest
challenges faced by many
newcomers to the country. They are also known
for working hard and being adaptable to Canadian
life. Many choose to settle
in smaller urban and rural
centers, as opposed to the
majority of newcomers who
head to Montreal, Toronto
or Vancouver.
“[Filipinos] are committed to being citizens, to
being volunteers, to being
public minded,” says Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. “People like them
because they take up challenges beyond just working
and finding a place to live.”
Employers in Canada
have increasingly been importing temporary workers from the Philippines
for years now, and many of
those workers are able to
apply for permanent residency within two years of
arriving in Canada.
Despite recent controversy over temporary
foreign workers, Minister
Alexander says that his government is committed to
helping employers find the
labour they so desperately
need – particularly in the
booming Prairie provinces.
The government has been
working to improve the
temporary program so that
worker’s rights are ensured
and those who are most
needed are able to come
and build a life for themselves and their families in
Canada.• - www.canada.com
Pinoys in Alberta hang economic recovery on pipeline plan
Many Filipinos in Alberta working in the oil and gas
industry were among the
many laid off last year due
to the collapse in oil prices.
But with recent talks
between the Canadian government and the oil and
gas sector, kababayans are
hopeful this will be the start
of the province’s economic
recovery.
With the price of oil
down at below $30 per barrel, Albertans believe approving a 4,600 kilometer
energy east pipeline that
will start from Alberta and
end in New Brunswick will
help the province recover
from the oil slump.
Henry Pacunayen has
worked in the oil and
gas industry since
2006 as a piping designer. He got laid off
in the 2008 economic
recession, found work
in 2009, and then he
was laid off last year
again when his company downsized.
“Dapat ang gawin
nila ang pipeline ay
masimulan na. Yun talaga
ang problema ng oil and
gas dito sa Alberta ngayon
kasi kailangan nilang i-push
ang mga product para kasi
ang kompetisyon dito sa
North America, before ay
sinusupplyan natin ang US,
ngayon kompetisyon na natin sila,” said Pacunayen.
Raymund Roy is thankful that he was one of the
last staff to be laid off from
his company last year. Now
he struggles to pay the bills
and support his family.
“They have to work
together and approve this
plan that they have kasi importante yan sa Alberta and
not only in Alberta, but all
over Canada,” Roy said.
The pipeline was one of
the highlights during Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau’s
recent visit to the province.
While there was no
agreement reached, both
government and the oil
and gas producers said the
meeting was very encouraging.
“We all know that Albertans and industry leaders in Alberta and this government don’t control the
price of oil internationally.
But what we can control
is how we respond to it,”
said Alberta Premier Rachel
Notley.
Trudeau said he will let
the National Energy Board’s
process go forward to allow
them to do their job without
political interference.
“We Canadians are
there for each other in
times of difficulties. We’ve
always been that way and
we will always be that way.
I have tremendous confidence in our ability to make
it through collectively the
challenges we are facing,”
Trudeau said.
Around 20,000 Albertans lost their jobs in 2015,
the highest since the 1982
recessions.
While the job forecast
in 2016 remains dim, many
are hopeful that ongoing
talks between the federal
and provincial governments and the oil and gas
producers will yield positive
results.•
- Q. Evano, ABS-CBN
Canada’s housing sector calls for
100,000 new affordable homes to meet critical need
Access to the middle class and elimination of homelessness depend on adequate affordable housing supply.
Ottawa, ON - During a increased by 30% while the objectives such as ending
press conference on Parlia- annual federal investment homelessness, addressing
ment Hill, a coalition of sev- in affordable housing de- the housing needs of Aben housing sector leaders creased by 46%, according original people, combatting
released a joint pre-budget to the State of Homeless- climate change, and reducstatement, Affordable hous- ness in Canada report. As ing poverty.
ing: a foundation for social a result, nearly 1 in 4 Ca“It’s urgent that vR&V