Candidates from both Central Okanagan ridings met at the Kelowna Downtown Library on Saturday (Sept. 22) to discuss immigration, refugees and migrant workers with their potential constituents.

Nine of the 12 candidates from both Kelowna-Lake Country and Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola showed up to the forum, which was sponsored by Amnesty International: Kelowna, KAIROS (BC-Yukon) and Citizens for Public Justice.

The format of the forum saw each party given 10 minutes to tackle all three issues followed by a session of audience-submitted questions.

John Barr (People91裸聊视频檚 Party of Canada - Kelowna-Lake Country), though not present, did send a proxy in Peter Neville, the president of the Kelowna-Lake Country People91裸聊视频檚 Party of Canada riding association.

And it was him 91裸聊视频� as well as his party 91裸聊视频� who drew the ire of some of the crowd, several of whom belonged to the groups being discussed.

91裸聊视频淲e have to recognize that certain parts of immigrants cause large expenses for Canadian taxpayers,91裸聊视频� said Neville.

91裸聊视频淭here are some (immigrants) who do not benefit (Canada) very much. We want to limit the sponsorship to people who are in the immediate family immigrating to Canada. That means that parents, grandparents and so on, have to come in on their own merits,91裸聊视频� Neville said.

He continued, saying that immigrants are a burden to our medical and welfare systems, which caused several reactions from members of the crowd 91裸聊视频� and NDP candidate Justin Kulik 91裸聊视频� who called his position 91裸聊视频渟hameful.91裸聊视频�

Kulik, however, turned his aim instead to the Liberal candidates, calling the current temporary foreign workers program 91裸聊视频渂roken.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎n NDP government would make sure that immigration policies and levels meet Canada91裸聊视频檚 labour force needs and to recognize people91裸聊视频檚 experience, contribution and ties to Canada,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l work with the provinces to address gaps in settlement services and to improve foreign credentials recognition.

91裸聊视频淲hat we91裸聊视频檙e proposing, is allowing these people that are coming to Canada to work a pathway to becoming Canadian citizens. We want to be able to offer them permanent residency. We want them to be able to call Canada home if they so choose,91裸聊视频� he said.

Liberal candidate Stephen Fuhr (Kelowna-Lake Country) said the current program has helped Canada grow its workforce.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have enough skilled (workers); we don91裸聊视频檛 have enough unskilled workers,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e need to get people here because it helps them, it helps us, and it91裸聊视频檚 mutually beneficial for everyone.91裸聊视频�

Conservative candidate Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) said his party would look to expand and improve integration services such as language training as well as an simpler immigration process.

91裸聊视频淭here are too many people that are waiting for their spouse and for their family members because of the long wait that happens,91裸聊视频� Albas said.

91裸聊视频淧art of it is by design, to make sure that everything goes ahead first, but part of is also is that there are a lot of challenges in the system. The system, currently, right now is overrun.91裸聊视频�

The Green Party91裸聊视频檚 Robert Mellalieu (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) said the temporary foreign worker program needs to be abolished and replaced with a path to citizenship.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e bringing in temporary foreign workers because we don91裸聊视频檛 feel like paying fruit pickers the proper wages and giving them the proper conditions,91裸聊视频� Mellalieu said. 91裸聊视频淎nd they say we can91裸聊视频檛 find workers. Yeah, we can91裸聊视频檛 find workers that will work at that wage.91裸聊视频�

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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