IMM #4(C): Canadian Start-Up Visas: Purchasing Permanent Residence

(You can apply for temporary visa under International Mobility Program while permanent resident application is being considered)

(Doesn’t matter if the business fails, you still have your PR)

1. Mass LEGAL Immigration In Canada

Despite what many think, LEGAL immigration into Canada is actually a much larger threat than illegal aliens, given the true scale of the replacement that is happening. What was founded as a European (British) colony is becoming unrecognizable due to forced demographic changes. There are also social, economic, environmental and voting changes to consider. See this Canadian series, and the UN programs for more detail. Politicians, the media, and so-called “experts” have no interest in coming clean on this.

CLICK HERE, for UN Genocide Prevention/Punishment Convention.
CLICK HERE, for Barcelona Declaration & Kalergi Plan.
CLICK HERE, for UN Kalergi Plan (population replacement).
CLICK HERE, for UN replacement efforts since 1974.
CLICK HERE, for tracing steps of UN replacement agenda.

Note: If there are errors in calculating the totals, please speak up. Information is of no use to the public if it isn’t accurate.

2. Important Links

(1) https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa/about.html
(2) http://archive.is/9RcrG
(3) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=653&top=6
(4) http://archive.is/v3OKB
(5) https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa/after-apply-next-steps.html
(6) http://archive.is/rArDt
(7) https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa/work-permits.html
(8) http://archive.is/XtJ6Z
(9) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=651&top=6
(10) http://archive.is/jGmpU
(11) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=657&top=6
(12) http://archive.is/0iZ4I
(13) https://canucklaw.ca/canada-pathway-to-permanent-residence-for-illegals-their-families/
(14) https://canucklaw.ca/sanctuary-cities-an-end-run-around-having-borders/
(15) https://canucklaw.ca/true-scale-of-illegals-in-us-22-million-more-amnesty-coming/

3. Get Funding “Then” Come To Canada

If I understand this correctly, you secure funding either from a Venture Capitalist or an Angel, and “then” you come to Canada to build your business. Okay, this seems very counterintuitive. Don’t Angels or Venture Capitalists want to see a successful business operation prior to investing in it?

So, is this some business that someone else has been running in Canada, or are you doing it primarily via the internet and teleconferencing?

Or are you so wealthy that you can simply buy a business in Canada, have other people run it, and then just come in

4. How Much Money Needed?

What is the minimum investment that I need to apply through the Start-up Visa Program?
If the investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, you must secure a minimum investment of $200,000.
If the investment comes from a designated Canadian angel investor group, you must secure a minimum investment of $75,000.
You don’t need to secure a financial investment from a business incubator. You must be accepted into a Canadian business incubator program.

5. List Of Supporting Organizations

List of designated organizations – start up visa
To apply for the Start-up Visa Program, your business idea or venture must get the support of one or more of the designated organizations listed below:
1) Venture capital funds
2) Angel investor groups
3) Business incubators
Designated organizations are business groups that are approved to invest in or support possible start-ups through the Start-up Visa Program.
Organizations choose which business proposals to review. Each organization has its own intake process for proposals and criteria used to assess them. For example, you may be asked to present your business concept in person or submit a detailed business plan.

Venture capital funds
You must get at least one of these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $200,000:

  • BCF Ventures
  • BDC Venture Capital
  • Celtic House Venture Partners
  • Extreme Venture Partners LLP
  • Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
  • Impression Ventures
  • Innovation Platform Capital International LP
  • iNovia Capital Inc.
  • Lumira Capital
  • Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation (o/a Innovacorp)
  • OMERS Ventures Management Inc.
  • Pangaea Ventures Ltd.
  • PRIVEQ Capital Funds
  • Real Ventures
  • Relay Ventures
  • ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
  • Top Renergy Inc.
  • Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
  • Version One Ventures
  • Westcap Management Ltd.
  • Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
  • York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund

Angel investor groups
You must get one or more investors connected to these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $75,000:

  • Canadian International Angel Investors
  • Ekagrata Inc.
  • Golden Triangle Angel Network
  • Keiretsu Forum Canada
  • Oak Mason Investments Inc.
  • Southeastern Ontario Angel Network
  • TenX Angel Investors Inc.
  • VANTEC Angel Network Inc.
  • York Angel Investors Inc.

Business incubators
You must be accepted into one of these programs:

  • Alacrity Foundation
  • Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
  • Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator
  • Food Processing Development Centre
  • Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
  • Creative Destruction Lab
  • Empowered Startups Ltd.
  • Extreme Innovations
  • Genesis Centre
  • Highline BETA Inc.
  • Innovacorp
  • Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara
  • Invest Ottawa
  • Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
  • LatAm Startups
  • Launch Academy – Vancouver
  • LaunchPad PEI Inc.
  • Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
  • NEXT Canada
  • North Forge Technology Exchange
  • Platform Calgary
  • Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
  • Ryerson Futures Inc.
  • Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
  • Spring Activator
  • The DMZ at Ryerson University
  • Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
  • TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
  • VIATEC
  • Waterloo Accelerator Centre
  • York Entrepreneurship Development Institute

This may sound cynical, but what is to stop someone from “funnelling” money through one of these Venture Capitalists or Angels, and having them approve it, after taking a cut? There doesn’t seem to be much, if anything, in the way of screening or verification by the government.

6. After You Have Applied

Confirmation of permanent residence
If we approve your application, we’ll issue you a permanent resident visa. This visa includes your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your entry visa.
Your COPR will have information about who you are, as well as your photograph. Please check to make sure it’s correct. It should be the same as the information on your passport. If there’s a mistake on your COPR, contact us through your account.
You must have your COPR and your visa with you when you arrive in Canada. We won’t extend your COPR, so you should make sure to use it before it expires.

That’s right. You can at often have your confirmation of permanent residence PRIOR to ever setting foot in Canada. This is basically just buying citizenship.

And if you don’t feel like waiting around to get your permanent resident status confirmed, you can always apply for an open work permit (via the International Mobility Program), and just work in Canada in the meantime.

And again, who is going to front $75,000 or $200,000 to start up a business in Canada for a “start up”, run by someone living in another country? Does this sound at all sketchy?

7. Early Entry For “Essential” People

What is an essential person under the Start-up Visa Program?
An essential person is considered to be critical to the business and will be specifically identified as essential by the designated organization on the commitment certificate and letter of support.
If we refuse the application of an essential person, all related applicants will be refused.

To recap this: Venture Capitalists or Angels are supposedly giving large sums of money to people to build a business in Canada. However they are doing this for someone who doesn’t even live in Canada, and presumably whose existing business is outside Canada. They are committing this money without any guarantee the person will be let into the country even on a temporary basis. They are committing this money with no assurance that a business run in another country will be successful in Canada.

This appears to be a very strange way to run such an operation, unless there was some other agenda at hand.

8. No Matter If Business Fails

If I immigrate through the Start-up Visa Program, what happens if my business fails?
If your business fails, it doesn’t affect your permanent resident status. We recognize that not every business will succeed and this program is designed so that the risk is shared between the public and private sector.

The program is designed so that the risk is shared by the public and the private sector? Does this mean that taxpayers will be subsidizing your losses or bankruptcy?

9. Is This Just A Pretext?

This article from Harvard Business Review explains in broad strokes how the business works, and how one gets funding.

While it is difficult enough for people working and residing within the host nation to get outside funding, it would be much more so for outsiders. So what then is the point of this program? Giving $75,000 to $200,000 for foreigners to start a business in Canada with no guarantee they could enter the country is absurd.

However, at least from the information readily available, there don’t seem to be any safeguards or checks and balances in place. It appears to rely on the honour system.

Uppity Peasants: The Moral Argument For Closing Loophole in Safe Third Country Agreement

(Uppity Peasants website)

1. Context For The Article

This is a quote from the author of Uppity Peasants. During a recent conversation, she gave some really good reasons as to why people should not be allowed to enter Canada illegally and feast off the taxpayers. Rather than paraphrasing, here is a quote in its entirety in Part #2.

Initial challenge has been struck down. The Prothonotary has ruled that a citizen has no standing to make such a claim (either public or private standing), and that there is nothing that the Court can do. Pretty messed up to say that a citizen has no rights or say in having a secure border. The first level appeal is underway, which is an appeal to a Justice of the Federal Court, and more information will provided as it comes along.

2. Input from Uppity Peasants

Morally, I would say that the citizens of Canada have as much of a right to safety as does any genuine refugee, and that letting in large numbers of “undocumented migrants” puts their safety at risk. I would also say that if the intent is to provide safety for those fleeing persecution, making it easy for individuals who may be after them (gang members, abusive husbands, w/e) to follow them into *our* country is doing no one any favours

I would further submit that we have no business in taking in so many people when we already have a housing shortage on our hands. crowding our homeless citizens out of the shelters by filling them with border crossers is morally reprehensible, particularly in light of our harsh winter climate. to do so is to argue that any one “refugee” from the other side of the planet is more worthy of shelter than a given, homeless Canadian; and given the disproportionately high rates of indigenous men and women among the homeless population, and the recent semi-official declaration of the federal government’s treatment of indigenous Canadians as “genocide”, this ought not to be a perception for the government to continue to reinforce.

Go check out Uppity Peasants website. Some very interesting content indeed. This is a moral and philosophical argument against allowing illegals to keep sneaking into Canada (mainly via Roxham Road, QC).

Hard to disagree with a single word here.

3. Why Try To Close The Loophole?

Writing and talking about immigration — legal or illegal — is one thing. Anyone can say they oppose something, or oppose an injustice. Anyone can complain about their concerns.

But in the end, do you actually mean anything that you say?
Are you willing to make the effort?

IMM #4(B): Canadian Student Visas — Pathway to PR For Families

(Student visas are pathway to permanent residence in Canada)

(Work in Canada after graduation)

(Spouse/Common-Law Partner also eligible to work)

(Children of students eligible to enroll in school)

(Canada and recognition of foreign credentials)

(StatsCan looks at over-education)

(Screenshot from 2018 Report to Parliament)

1. Mass LEGAL Immigration In Canada

Despite what many think, LEGAL immigration into Canada is actually a much larger threat than illegal aliens, given the true scale of the replacement that is happening. What was founded as a European (British) colony is becoming unrecognizable due to forced demographic changes. There are also social, economic, environmental and voting changes to consider. See this Canadian series, and the UN programs for more detail. Politicians, the media, and so-called “experts” have no interest in coming clean on this.

CLICK HERE, for UN Genocide Prevention/Punishment Convention.
CLICK HERE, for Barcelona Declaration & Kalergi Plan.
CLICK HERE, for UN Kalergi Plan (population replacement).
CLICK HERE, for UN replacement efforts since 1974.
CLICK HERE, for tracing steps of UN replacement agenda.

Note: If there are errors in calculating the totals, please speak up. Information is of no use to the public if it isn’t accurate.

2. Important Links

CLICK HERE, for stay in Canada after graduation.
http://archive.is/Tf68L
CLICK HERE, for post graduation work permit.
http://archive.is/Tw4J1
CLICK HERE, for work permits for spouse/common-law partner.
http://archive.is/jUk5I
CLICK HERE, for working while school is in session.
http://archive.is/4HCNi
CLICK HERE, for children studying in Canada, including options without any visa.
http://archive.is/SCTwX
CLICK HERE, for foreign credential recognition in Canada.
http://archive.is/q7tio
CLICK HERE, for auditing the F.C.R.P.
http://archive.is/tvwn8
CLICK HERE, for a Statistics Canada paper on over-education and life happiness data in Canada.
http://archive.is/WzyTV

CLICK HERE, for Canada: amnesty for illegals pilot program in GTA.
CLICK HERE, for sanctuary cities circumventing borders.
CLICK HERE, for 22M+ illegals in U.S., amnesty programs.

3. Annual Immigration Reports To Parliament

(a) 2004 Annual Report to Parliament
(b) 2005 Annual Report to Parliament
(c) 2006 Annual Report to Parliament
(d) 2007 Annual Report to Parliament
(e) 2008 Annual Report to Parliament
(f) 2009 Annual Report to Parliament
(g) 2010 Annual Report to Parliament
(h) 2011 Annual Report to Parliament
(i) 2012 Annual Report to Parliament
(j) 2013 Annual Report to Parliament
(k) 2014 Annual Report to Parliament
(l) 2015 Annual Report to Parliament
(m) 2016 Annual Report to Parliament
(n) 2017 Annual Report to Parliament
(o) 2018 Annual Report to Parliament
(p) Archived listings of Reports

Report Year Actual Year Numbers
2004 2003 61,293
2005 2004 56,536
2006 2005 57,476
2007 2006 61,703
2008 2007 64,636
2009 2008 79,509
2010 2009 85,140
2011 2010 96,157
2012 2011 98,383
2013 2012 104,810
2014 2013 111,865
2015 2014 127,698
2016 2015 219,143
2017 2016 265,111
2018 2017 317,328

4. Context For This Article

In our official Annual Reports to Parliament on Immigration, student visas are classified as “temporary” migration into Canada. However, this is extremely misleading for at least 3 reasons:

First: There are pathways to stay in Canada after graduation, and to obtain permanent residence. These are not loopholes, but options deliberately built in.

Second: Students can work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session, and an unlimited amount of time in other weeks. These are in fact WORK permits as well, and it forces Canadians to compete against students for other jobs.

Third: There are options to bring family members along, which the public at large doesn’t know. Spouses, for example, can obtain work permits simply for being married to a student visa holder. Also, children of student visa holders get access to primary and secondary schooling in Canada — even without a visa. This counts for the children as “time in Canada”, and towards credit for extending the stay further.

5. Work Permits For Spose Of Student

Who can get a work permit as the spouse or common-law partner of a student?
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you:
-have a valid study permit and
-are a full-time student at one of these types of schools:
-a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
-a private college-level school in Quebec
-a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree)

The student visa program is designed to provide open work permits for the spouse or Common-Law Partner of a student visa holder to work freely for any employer while the other is in school. Of course, this counts towards the time needed to be in Canada to transition into other statuses, say permanent resident.

6. Student’s Children Can Study, No Visa

Minor children before entering Canada
Minor children who want to study for six months or more must apply for a study permit before they enter Canada. This includes minor children who come with parents who had a study or work permit approved overseas.
You do not need a study permit for a program of six months or less, but you may still apply for one before entering Canada.
If you are coming to Canada with parents who have a valid study or work permit, you don’t need to provide a letter of acceptance from a school when you apply for a study permit.

Minor children already in Canada
Minors already in Canada should apply for a study permit. In some provinces or territories, they may need one to receive social services.
Minor children who are already in Canada may study without a study permit if they:
-are in kindergarten, no matter what their parents’ status is in Canada
-want to go to pre-school, primary or secondary school and have a parent who is allowed to work or study in Canada
-are refugees or refugee claimants
-have parents who are refugees or refugee claimants
-came to Canada as a visitor for a course or program of studies of six months or less
-will study in a course or program of six months or less
-are in Canada by themselves

This may be poor wording from the site, but why would the children already be in the country if the parents are not? Is the incentive here to enter Canada with the children and only then get them into school?

Nonetheless, if the children of a student are in Canada, they are eligible to be enrolled — for free — in primary or secondary school in Canada.

7. Work While In School

How many hours can you work off-campus?
-You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.
During regular school semesters:
-you can work up to 20 hours
During scheduled breaks in your school year, like during winter and summer holidays:
-you can work full-time
-you can’t work during a break that comes before you start your very first school semester
-If your program doesn’t have scheduled academic breaks, you can’t work more than 20 hours per week.

While school is going on, a student visa holder can work up to 20 hours/week, for any employer. One caveat, you cannot work for multiple employers if the combined total is over 20 hours/week. At other times, there is no limit to the number of hours available.

And again, Canadians are forced to compete against what is essentially a pool of temporary work visas.

8. Post Graduate Work Permit

If your program was more than 8 months but less than 2 years
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.
For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.

If your program was 2 years or more
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.

If you completed more than 1 program
You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.
Each of the programs you completed must be
-PGWP-eligible and
-at least 8 months in length
You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.

In reality, most graduates are getting a work permit after finishing school through the Post Graduate Work Program. It may be up to 3 years, sometimes longer. Why? What is the goal?

The final objective for many is clear. Permanent residence, and then citizenship. Student visas (while “temporary” on paper, are in fact stepping stones to remaining in Canada.

9. Transition Into Permanent Residents

Find your path to permanent residence
You’ve studied in Canada and maybe you even have Canadian work experience. Now, you’d like to live here permanently. We have options for you to become a permanent resident!
The Come to Canada tool can help you explore your options. You can also use the cheat sheet below to compare programs. Visit the program’s eligibility page to get all the details.

This page is too long to quote, but do go through it. Point is, that “temporary” visas like student visas are in fact stepping stones (pathways) to becoming a permanent resident.

As for your spouse and children (if any) in Parts #4 and #5, guess what? That time spent in Canada will also count towards the necessary time in Canada. And if the original student visa holder becomes a permanent resident, it will be easier to sponsor them as well.

10. How Many Students Are We Admitting?

Check the data table in Part #2. All of that comes directly from the Annual Reports to Parliament in Canada. Clearly, the numbers have been trending upwards for many years, and there is no sign of that slowing down. It has gone even higher since, with total college and university enrollment consisting of about 40% international students.

Why the surge? 3 reasons. First, colleges and universities are money pits, and require an almost endless supply of money to keep going. God forbid they downsize. Second, Canadians are more and more opting opt of the post secondary life, given high debt and poor job prospects. That shortfall has to be made up elsewhere, or else cuts will need to be made. Third, as outlined before, student visas are a direct pathway to permanent residence, something more and more people are taking advantage of.

Also, keep in mind that children of students are allowed to come to primary and secondary school without a student visa in many cases. Although the majority of student visa holders are childless, this does skew the data.

The result is that Canada is importing a replacement population under the guise of higher education. Citizenship for tuition dollars, that’s what it comes down to.

11. Overeducation, Poor Job Prospects

Over-education is typically defined as employment in an occupation that is below an individual’s skills or work experience (Chen, Smith and Mustard 2010). Subjective measures based on respondents’ self-perceived over-education are also used in the literature (Feldman and Turnley 1995). Although there are multiple operational definitions (Friedland and Price 2003), the most commonly used measure identifies the occurrence of over-education as when an individual’s educational attainment is higher than the level of education “required to adequately perform” his or her job (Rubb 2003; Wolbers 2003, p. 250). This study also employs this definition of over-education, focusing specifically on the match between an individual’s educational attainment and the educational requirements of the occupation.

Generally, individuals who are over-educated are not able to obtain employment that fully capitalizes on their level of education, in terms of either financial rewards or skill utilization (Bracke, van de Straat and Missinne 2014; Feldman 1996). The consequences of over-education have been examined extensively. Much of the literature focuses on either the economic costs of over-education or how over-education affects job quality. These studies indicate that over-education results in lower earnings, lower productivity, more precarious working conditions, less autonomy on the job, and unused human capital (e.g., Chiswick and Miller 2009; Fleming and Kler 2008; Hartog 2000; Nordin, Persson and Rooth 2010; Peter, Gässler and Geyer 2007; Piper 2015; Smith and Frank 2005; Wu, Luksyte and Parker 2015). However, there are also psychological costs that may be linked, at least in part, to these consequences of over-education.

One limitation of these studies is that they are concentrated on recent immigrants, who tend to experience a range of challenges when transitioning into a new culture and labour market. While some hypothesize that a continued mismatch between immigrants’ education and employment likely increases their feelings of dissatisfaction (Chen, Smith and Mustard 2010), there is no evidence that this is the case. In fact, George et al. (2012) found that immigrant engineers who were not employed in their field and had been living in Canada for six or more years had higher life satisfaction than their more recently arrived counterparts.

That study is a very interesting one, and those are just a few quotes from it.

However, researchers omit a very real piece of information from the equation. Depending on where a person comes from, merely moving to Canada would be seen as a victory with the much higher standard of living. One could reasonably believe that immigrating itself was the real goal, with occupational achievement a very distant second. That is missing from the report though.

This is not to say that there is anything inherently bad with moving to another country. But we should be honest about what is really driving these changes. It is overall quality of life.

As anyone who has been paying attention over the last decade knows, the market is extremely glutted for new graduates. Why then would people come all the way over here to compete with Canadians? Answer: immigrating itself is the real goal. Many don’t care what field they end up in.

The CBC article is just one example of media making it abundantly clear that job prospects for young people and new graduates is very harsh. Importing large numbers of students who intend to remain in Canada only makes their difficulties worse.

12. Foreign Credential Recognition Prog

1. Overview
The Government of Canada provides funding to governments and organizations through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) to support foreign credential recognition in Canada.

The Framework sets out a commitment to provide internationally trained individuals in target occupations with timely credential recognition service. This means these individuals will know within one year whether their qualifications, including their credentials, meet Canadian requirements, what other requirements they may need and which other occupations match their skills and experience. Governments are putting supports and processes in place to meet this service standard.

This service commitment is already being met in these target occupations:

  • architect
  • dentist
  • engineering technician
  • engineer
  • financial auditor and accountant
  • licensed practical nurse
  • medical laboratory technologist
  • medical radiation technologist
  • occupational therapist
  • pharmacist
  • physiotherapist
  • registered nurse
  • physician
  • teacher (K–12)

This service commitment will soon be met in these target occupations:

  • audiologist and speech language pathologist
  • carpenter
  • electrician (industrial and construction)
  • geoscientist
  • heavy duty equipment technician
  • heavy equipment operator
  • lawyer
  • midwife
  • psychologist
  • welder

Any of these fields look familiar? They are ones that Canadian graduates struggle to find work in. This is because the markets are already saturated.

Note also: true, these programs exist in Canadian schools, but the places available are very limited. This means that there ARE Canadians who want to get into these fields, but that only limited spaces exist.

The Canadian Government (really the taxpayers) help to fund this Foreign Credential Recognition Program. This means that taxpayers are financing efforts to bring more foreign workers in, while our own people struggle to find meaningful work.

One obvious benefit to this high supply of labour: it helps to keep wages low. The supply — in many fields — far outweighs the demands.

Of course, there is another angle to look at: The FCRP staff can claim that the foreign credentials don’t quite meet the standard, and that more schooling is needed. Hence, the workers will be forced to help finance the post-secondary education beast.

13. Auditing The F.C.R.P.

The audit findings indicate a high level of compliance with respect to educational and professional qualification requirements. The audit confirmed that all credentials claimed by appointees in 269 appointments were valid and issued by legitimate institutions. However, there were 9 appointments (out of the total sample of 278 appointments) where the audit team did not have enough information to complete validation, for reasons outlined in this report.

While the authenticity of the credentials claimed by appointees was largely confirmed, the audit did reveal a lack of understanding of the requirement for appointees to provide proof of Canadian equivalency for foreign credentials. Qualification standards, established by the Treasury Board of Canada, stipulate that candidates with foreign credentials must have those credentials assessed against Canadian educational standards and found to be comparable. Sub-delegated managers did not follow through on this requirement in 12 of the 24 appointments (50%) where it applied. This observation leads to the single recommendation stemming from the audit.

For the auditing done in 2019, 278 appointments were audited for documentation, and 24 were audited for equivalency to Canadian education.

These are very small audit numbers, given the size and scale of the program. But half (50%) were not equivalent enough to Canadian standards.

As for the missing documentation, is it that paperwork has gone missing, or was there fraud? Would be interesting to know.

14. Where Do Things Stand?

Let’s consider the facts:

(a) Canada is admitting a huge population of foreign students, which now make up almost half of college and university students. Schools need these foreign students to make up the difference as domestic enrollment is decreasing. The numbers for international students have been consistently trending upwards.

(b) Students can work, even while in school. This leads to an artificial bump in the amount of workers available, and helps to hamstring Canadians who are looking for work, or for more hours. They have new competition to face.

(c) These students, once they graduate, will have pathways to obtain permanent resident status. This also applies to a spouse or children, who are able to come to Canada as well. This is not “temporary” migration as people claim, and absolutely should be disclosed publicly.

(d) Many professions are completely glutted with graduates and other young people. This has led to an underemployment epidemic Canada, where people are getting little to no use out of their education. As such, it become an employer’s market in many fields, and it allows wages to remain stagnant, even as inflation continues.

(e) Our own government uses taxpayer money to finance the recognition of foreign credentials. This happens even as Canadian programs are capped and enrollment limited. This means that the rules are intentionally rigged to favour foreigners.

How does any of this help Canadians? How does importing subsidized foreign competition, while capping domestic enrollment make job hunting easier for Canadians? It doesn’t. All it does it help ensure a large supply of labour available to work for less.

To be fair, it does also help replace the population. But that has been addressed elsewhere.

IMM #7: Toronto Opens Path To PR For Illegals & Their Families

(Program launched in July: PR-Path for illegals)

(Canadian Labour Congress)

(Canadian Border Services cancelling arrest warrants)

(Nothing new here. Temps becoming permanent residents is old news, and there are many ways to do this.

(Screenshots from 2018 Report to Parliament)

(How the CPC might address this issue)

1. Mass LEGAL Immigration In Canada

Despite what many think, LEGAL immigration into Canada is actually a much larger threat than illegal aliens, given the true scale of the replacement that is happening. What was founded as a European (British) colony is becoming unrecognizable due to forced demographic changes. There are also social, economic, environmental and voting changes to consider. See this Canadian series, and the UN programs for more detail. Politicians, the media, and so-called “experts” have no interest in coming clean on this.

CLICK HERE, for UN Genocide Prevention/Punishment Convention.
CLICK HERE, for Barcelona Declaration & Kalergi Plan.
CLICK HERE, for UN Kalergi Plan (population replacement).
CLICK HERE, for UN replacement efforts since 1974.
CLICK HERE, for tracing steps of UN replacement agenda.

Note: If there are errors in calculating the totals, please speak up. Information is of no use to the public if it isn’t accurate.

2. Important Links

(1) https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/permanent-residence-construction-workers-gta.html
(2) http://archive.is/e6OYZ
(3) https://canadianlabour.ca/permanentresidence/
(4) http://archive.is/s3pq6
(5) https://canucklaw.ca/sanctuary-cities-an-end-run-around-having-borders/
(6) https://canucklaw.ca/true-scale-of-illegals-in-us-22-million-more-amnesty-coming/

3. Annual Immigration Reports To Parliament

(a) 2004 Annual Report to Parliament
(b) 2005 Annual Report to Parliament
(c) 2006 Annual Report to Parliament
(d) 2007 Annual Report to Parliament
(e) 2008 Annual Report to Parliament
(f) 2009 Annual Report to Parliament
(g) 2010 Annual Report to Parliament
(h) 2011 Annual Report to Parliament
(i) 2012 Annual Report to Parliament
(j) 2013 Annual Report to Parliament
(k) 2014 Annual Report to Parliament
(l) 2015 Annual Report to Parliament
(m) 2016 Annual Report to Parliament
(n) 2017 Annual Report to Parliament
(o) 2018 Annual Report to Parliament
(p) Archived listings of Reports

Each annual report talks about how many “temporary” workers and students come into Canada every year. But how many of them actually leave, and how many simply stay, legally or otherwise?

4. Some Context For This Review

Defenders of mass migration into Canada always defend so-called “temporary” entry into the country. These programs include:
(a) Temporary Foreign Worker Program
(b) International Mobility Program
(c) Student Visas

The main difference (on paper) between TFWP and IMP is that TFWP requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is a demonstration that a job exists that a Canadian cannot fulfill. By contrast, the International Mobility Program is effectively an open work permit.

While student visas are supposed to be for school, students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week when class is in session. They are allowed unlimited hours other periods. Student visas are essentially work permits as well.

Despite what critics claim, not everyone returns home after their allotted time in Canada. Some do, certainly, but a lot don’t. Why? Because Canada’s laws make it very easy to obtain permanent residence, or to otherwise extend your stay. And not only can the main applicant stay, but family (typically spouse and children) are often included in this.

Certainly there are other programs than the 3 listed above, but they are 3 of the largest, and important to note.

5. Pathway To Permanent Residence

Ottawa, July 5, 2019 – Canada has launched a new temporary initiative to create a pathway to permanent residency for up to 500 out-of-status workers in the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These construction workers have come to Canada and made contributions to its economy and currently have limited means to regularize their status.

And if this “temporary” initiative is deemed to be successful, then how much will it be extended by? Guaranteed it is not 500 people.

Over many years, even decades, some workers who have come to Canada with valid temporary resident status, and who have filled labour shortages in the construction industry, have fallen out of status. Previous changes, such as “four in, four out”, have resulted in some workers losing their status. These workers have continued to address significant labour shortages in the construction industry, while also contributing to the economy and their communities. Without valid immigration status, these workers and their families have lived in fear and been left feeling very vulnerable. The presence of out-of-status workers in a significant industry leads to depressed wages for Canadians and makes workers vulnerable to employer exploitation and abuse.

Over many years and decades? So the government admits that people have been overstaying visas or work permits for decades. Why hasn’t this been addressed long ago.

Illegals living in Canada leads to depressed wages? I would actually agree, but up to a point. Yes, the extra labour available does drive down wages. However, that would still be the case even if they were “legalized”. It would still be an abundance of cheap labour.

The Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area responds to the recent parliamentary report on labour shortages in the construction industry in this part of Canada and reflects observations from numerous studies about the vulnerability of out-of-status workers. In the committee’s recommendations, the Government was urged to explore solutions for workers in the construction industry with precarious or no immigration status.

This temporary initiative is a step forward to increase the protection of some of these construction workers and their families, while safeguarding Canada’s labour market and ensuring that Canada can retain the workers it needs to grow the economy and build communities.

Potential applicants will first identify themselves to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), a national labour organization with many construction industry affiliates in the GTA. CLC officials will determine the eligibility of potential applicants and refer them to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source is here. That is exactly as it sounds. People living in the country illegally can sign up for this program, and if accepted, will be on a pathway to permanent residence.

Not that we don’t have large numbers of Canadians who are either unemployed or underemployed. Never mind that Canadians are forced to compete for jobs with people in the country illegally, who are often willing to work less. Never mind the effect of driving down wages.

Ignore the money that gets sent out of the country as remittances, money that should be staying and helping to drive Canada’s economy.

Does anyone truly believe this is a “temporary” program, or that it is going to remain at just a few hundred people? No, once it’s considered “operational”, the next step will be to scale it up.

6. PR Program For Families

Spouses/partners and dependent children can be included in the application for permanent residence.

This detail cannot be left out. This so-called temporary initiative is not just for the worker without legal status. Spouse and children are also eligible to apply under it.

7. Canadian Labour Congress

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is proud to be working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to implement a temporary initiative that will help 500 out-of-status construction workers find a pathway to permanent residence that will end the insecure nature of their employment and immigration status.

Out-of-status workers are people who have come to Canada with valid temporary residence status, but have fallen out of status for various reasons, and have found employment in the construction industry. Without status, these workers have continued to fill labour shortages, while contributing greatly to our society and economy. However, fear of detection, detainment, and deportation drives these workers and their families “underground,” often limiting their access to social programs, and making them vulnerable to employer exploitation and abuse.

The Canadian Labour Congress openly admits that people are working without being legally allowed in (or to remain) in Canada. But who cares, we need the workers.

The purpose of this initiative is to put in place a mechanism for the Government of Canada and the CLC, in the spirit of co-operation and mutual interest, to work together in the identification and referral for processing of applications for permanent residence in Canada of up to 500 out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and their immediate family members (e.g., spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children).

Up to 100 of the 500 spaces for this public policy will be permitted for those who entered Canada as a temporary resident, but who never had authorization to work in Canada.

For some clarification, it is not 500 people INCLUDING family members. Rather, it is 500 people plus their family members.

Nice bait-and-switch here. The program is announced as a means to help WORKERS who have fallen on hard times. However, the CLC admits it will be partially open for people who were never even workers.

Also, this may be poor wording, but is immediate family limited to a spouse and children, or are those just the guidelines?

8. U.S. A Cautionary Warning

Both sanctuary cities and the estimated 22 million or more illegals have been covered here. The U.S. has had many amnesty initiatives, but since the borders are not secure, this doesn’t help the problem. It only encourages much more of it.

Problem is, since Canada doesn’t track people leaving the country (until very recently), we have no way of knowing who has left, and when.

Informal estimates are of 200,000 to 500,000 people living in the Canada, small compared to 22M or more in the United States. However, getting actual substance behind those estimates is difficult. And if this “pilot program” is considered successful, how large will it be expanded to?

9. CBSA “Cancelling” Arrest Warrants

While a separate topic, this is interesting to consider as well. Recently the Canadian Border Services Agency admitted it “cancels” arrest warrants for people it is supposed to deport, but cannot find. The article is mind-blowingly stupid beyond belief.

According to Lemire, the CBSA cancelled more than 1,300 immigration warrants in 2018. It’s unclear how many of these cancelled warrants were for people who could still be in Canada but were not found by the CBSA.

A cynic might wonder whether this is politically motivated, or whether the Border Services wants to appear less incompetent by having less “open warrants” on its books. Either way, it’s disgraceful, and undermines Canadian sovereignty.

10. Forget Deportation, Just Put Them To Work

That seems to be where we are heading. No more “divisive” deportations. Just put them to work, and hand out their new papers. Don’t worry about any of the long term costs.

As has been covered ad nauseum here, LEGAL immigration into Canada is currently at about 1 million per year. That includes people who have entered on some kind of visa, and have a pathway to permanent residence.

This program will not stop at 500 workers and their families. It will be expanded once the structure is in place. It cheapens Canadian citizenship when access to it is so easy.

The Frankfurt School: What’s Behind Cultural Marxism, Feminism

1. Important Links

(1) https://www.thoughtco.com/frankfurt-school-3026079
(2) https://wgsi.utoronto.ca/graduate/ma-program/courses
(3) http://sociology.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SOC6119-Syllabus_Feminist-Theory-and-Practice-Fall2019.pdf
(4) https://canucklaw.ca/cbc-propaganda-4-more-on-the-wage-gap/
(5) https://canucklaw.ca/lawsuit-against-harvard-for-racial-quotas-continues/
(6) https://canucklaw.ca/bc-supreme-court-rules-parents-cant-stop-kids-from-getting-sex-changes/
(7) https://www.thepostmillennial.com/trans-activists-and-progressive-politicians-shut-down-vancouver-rape-shelter/
(8) https://canucklaw.ca/canadian-govt-purges-sunni-shia-from-2019-terrorism-report-bill-c-59/
(9) https://canucklaw.ca/international-smuggling-and-child-exploitation-part-iii-islam/

2. Context For The Article

Cultural Marxism, and ideologies such as feminism are often criticized as complete nonsense. It’s pointed out that they use garbage arguments, half truths to justify themselves, and end up fragmenting society.

While this is all true, an interesting piece of the puzzle is left out: what are the origins of these beliefs? Did they grow organically, or was there something more organized helping it along? Also, were these good intentions gone awry, or is there malevolent intent behind these theories?

3. Articles On The Subject

  • Aesthetic Theory, (Theodor W. Adorno)
  • Culture Industry Reconsidered, (Theodor W. Adorno)
  • Critical and Traditional Theory (Horkheimer)
  • Critique of Instrumental Reason, (Max Horkheimer)
  • Dialectic of the Enlightenment (Adorno and Horkheimer)
  • Knowledge and Human Interests (Habermas)
  • One-Dimensional Man (Marcuse)
  • Structural Transformation and the Public Sphere, (JĂĽrgen Habermas)
  • The Aesthetic Dimension: Toward a Critique of Marxist Aesthetics, (Herbert Marcuse)
  • The Authoritarian Personality, (Theodor W. Adorno)
  • The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere (Habermas)
  • The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (Benjamin)
  • Towards a Rational Society, (JĂĽrgen Habermas)
  • Traditional and Critical Theory, (Max Horkheimer)
  • The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, (Walter Benjamin)

4. From ThoughtCo Site

The Frankfurt School was a group of scholars known for developing critical theory and popularizing the dialectical method of learning by interrogating society’s contradictions. It is most closely associated with the work of Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Erich Fromm, and Herbert Marcuse. It was not a school, in the physical sense, but rather a school of thought associated with scholars at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt in Germany.

In 1923, Marxist scholar Carl Grünberg founded the Institute, initially financed by another such scholar, Felix Weil. The Frankfurt School scholars are known for their brand of culturally focused neo-Marxist theory—a rethinking of classical Marxism updated to their socio-historical period. This proved seminal for the fields of sociology, cultural studies, and media studies.

In 1930 Max Horkheimer became the director of the Institute and recruited many of the scholars who came to be known collectively as the Frankfurt School. In the aftermath of Marx’s failed prediction of revolution, these individuals were dismayed by the rise of Orthodox Party Marxism and a dictatorial form of communism. They turned their attention to the problem of rule through ideology, or rule carried out in the realm of culture. They believed that technological advancements in communications and the reproduction of ideas enabled this form of rule.

Their ideas overlapped with Italian scholar Antonio Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony. Other early members of the Frankfurt School included Friedrich Pollock, Otto Kirchheimer, Leo Löwenthal, and Franz Leopold Neumann. Walter Benjamin was also associated with it during its peak in the mid-20th century.

One of the core concerns of the scholars of the Frankfurt School, especially Horkheimer, Adorno, Benjamin, and Marcuse, was the rise of “mass culture.” This phrase refers to the technological developments that allowed for the distribution of cultural products—music, film, and art—on a mass scale. (Consider that when these scholars began crafting their critiques, radio and cinema were still new phenomena, and television didn’t exist.) They objected to how technology led to a sameness in production and cultural experience. Technology allowed the public to sit passively before cultural content rather than actively engage with one another for entertainment, as they had in the past. The scholars theorized that this experience made people intellectually inactive and politically passive, as they allowed mass-produced ideologies and values to wash over them and infiltrate their consciousness.

Marxism (as prescribed by Karl Marx), was a way of “making” everyone equal via Communism. The Government would control the means of production and in effect, run all industries. Everyone who make the same amount of money, regardless of profession or work ethic. Everyone would have access to the same level of Government run social services.

In theory, this sounded great, as everyone would get their basic needs met. In practice, however, the only way to run such a system is by force, and to take away free will. Few people are willing to work hard when there are no rewards for doing do, hence the system falls apart. True, everyone will have access to the same services, but to the same “poor” services.

Cultural Marxism takes those same principles and applies them on a cultural level, despite having extremely harmful effects. This is because “oppression” is often viewed as the root cause of a difference, not simply difference in groups.

How does this destructive ideology manifest itself? Let’s take a look at a few examples of claiming “injustice” where no such thing exists.

5. Long Debunked “Gender Pay Gap”

This was addressed in a previous article. Feminists (a sub-group of cultural Marxists), have long claimed that women are on average are paid less. As proof, they often point to government statistics that show that on average, the hourly wage is more for a man than for a women.

However, feminists don’t want to ask WHY women are, on average, paid less than men. Such an omission completely derails their arguments. Men on average, work in more physical, dangerous, and skilled positions. They work full time more often than women do, and on average, are employed for longer periods of time. Also, there are more likely to take fields in college or university (like STEM or business), while arts and humanities are dominated by women. These differences go a long way towards explaining differences in pay.

Despite these obvious answers being easily available, the “gender-pay-gap” is still widely trumpeted in academia and feminist circles. It’s as if the people behind these theories, the Cultural Marxists, don’t want to see it properly addressed.

One such example is here, of a brainwashed feminist. She knows men are not women, but assumes that women earning less is patriarchy. Great use of her BA/MA in gender studies.

Of course, cultural Marxism also pushes the idea that women have to have careers in order to be happy with their lives, and that motherhood is a form of submission into traditional gender roles. Fact is, we need women to be mothers in order to keep the next generation of society going. Population replacement via mass migration is not really a good idea.

6. Abortion Agenda

This area has been brought up repeatedly on the site. To boil it down, cultural Marxists have been pushing the idea that abortion (or killing your unborn children) is actually a form of empowerment to be embraced by women as a whole. This is morbid, as it completely devalues human life.

See here, see here, see here, and see Trudeau, for some examples of accepting viewpoint diversity.

Also worth noting is that the organ trafficking industry — or baby chop shop — is an extremely lucrative market. So there is definitely a financial incentive as well for pushing infanticide.

7. Affirmative Action, Racial Differences

The topic of affirmative action was covered, in this article on Harvard University being sued for having racial quotas. Harvard, like many schools, engages in affirmative action, or have “quotas” for how many people in certain groups get in. The rationale is that “oppression and inequality” get factored into these decisions. But isn’t that inherently unfair to other groups of people?

2 other possibilities could explain the disparity in admissions.

(a) Differences in culture: if a particular group has such a culture that on average does not value education, it seems likely that far fewer people from that culture will successfully pursue academia. It is not discrimination, but the result of personal choices.

(b) Biological differences in racial/ethnic groups: as unpopular as it is to say, there are biological differences between groups, and it includes differences in IQ. This has been researched ad nauseum, but the findings are immediately condemned by many as being racist. Average IQ of whites is around 100, while Jewish and Asians are even higher. IQ in Central and South America is often in the 80s, while in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is in the 70s. Certainly, no one has control over how they were born, but these differences do exist.

Despite IQ and work ethic differences across various groups, cultural Marxists keep insisting that differences in academic entry, graduation, and accomplishment is due to systemic racism and discrimination. It’s as if they don’t want the truth to be told.

8. Promoting Gay/Trans Agenda

Not only are segments of society actively promoting the idea that people should become the opposite sex if they feel uncomfortable, they push it in children as well. This comes despite the enormous health risks, the suicide rates, and the inability to have children in later stages of life.

One recent trend is the push for allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports, despite the remaining physical advantages. This will undoubtedly help to ruin women’s sports along the way.

Another development was to block funding, for a rape relief shelter in Vancouver, as it wasn’t interested in letting trans-women in. This is nonsense. Rather than being available to help the vast majority of victims, it will now be available to help no one. Good job.

There is the idea of people living their lives as they are, (controversy notwithstanding). Then there is throwing your weight around and demanding society accommodate you.

9. Increasing Islamization

Islam has such strong influence in Canada today that our government pussyfoots around calling Islamic terrorism for what it is. Our leaders crow about diversity being a great thing, but never get into the sexual violence and exploitation that is so rampant in Islam.

This is on top of Bill C-75, which waters down penalties in Canada for terrorism. This is on top of Bill C-6, which revoked a previous law to deport “Canadians” who were dual citizens, but convicted for terrorism or treason.

Also, please note the incessant demands by Muslims to accommodate their way of life, their religion, and their culture. Note, this accommodation will never be reciprocated.

Islam is completely incompatible with the West, and with every other culture in general. However, cultural Marxists just keep telling us not to be bigots and embrace diversity. Feminists as well, openly embrace Islam, despite is going against everything they claim to believe in. LGBTQ groups support Islam too, despite the fact that Islam openly calls for gays to be killed?

Why is this nonsense embraced, when it is so contrary to Western ideals? What is behind it? Who is behind it?

10. Cultural Marxism A Weapon Against Us?

Consider the long term implications of cultural Marxism. Yes, there is some stereotyping, but largely this is true. Consider the points raised in #5 to #9

(A) Women who become feminists are very likely to reject Western society as a whole. They will hate themselves, and men in general. Rather than having children and perpetuating the species, many will remain childless. Instead, they will believe the lie that career is the key to every woman’s happiness.

(B) Rather than embracing children, killing their unborn children is now seen as totally acceptable. It is framed as “reproductive care” and of “my body, my choice”. The obvious result from this is a much lower birth rate, and population decline.

(C) Instead of promoting a meritocracy, we water down any and all standards in the name of being inclusive and tolerant. Actual skill, experience, and competence take a backseat to being diverse.

(D) Push the gay and trans agenda, especially in children. Forget the emotional and psychological harm that comes of it. Remember as well: gay couples cannot have children, and people who have transitioned fully cannot have children with anyone anymore.

(E) Embracing and making excuses for Islam projects the false image that it is compatible with Western society. Never mind the huge cultural clashes that do go on. And never mind that Muslims have a birthrate that far exceeds Western couples. An attempt to out-breed us?

Is there a pattern here? Although cultural Marxism encompasses other ideas, there is a trend here. These initiatives involve Western, European people having less children — or none at all. The solution of course, will be to import a “replacement population”, who will outbreed and eventually replace Europeans.

The founders of cultural Marxism, why do they do this? Are they of a certain group that has a very strong in-group preference? Is the goal of cultural Marxism to inflict great damage across the West? Is it designed to completely destroy the West?

Ending (Political) Corporate Welfare

1. Previous Solutions Offered

A response that frequently comes up is for people to ask what to do about it. Instead of just constantly pointing out what is wrong, some constructive suggestions should be offered. This section contains a list of proposals that, if implemented, would benefit society. While the details may be difficult to implement, at least they are a starting point.

2. Important Links

(1) https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/income-taxes/corporate/credits/political-contribution
(2) https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/legislation-debates-proceedings/41st-parliament/2nd-session/bills/third-reading/gov03-3
(3) https://www.elections.ab.ca/parties-and-candidates/forms-and-guides/tax-credits/
(4) https://www.elections.sk.ca/candidates-political-parties/electoral-finance/contributions/
(5) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-election-donation-rebate-1.4587966
(6) https://ipolitics.ca/2018/02/16/loss-per-vote-subsidy-still-hurting-ndps-pockets/

3. Context For The Article

It has been in the news a lot lately: the idea of scrapping corporate welfare. This notion is based on the simple concept that taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize businesses which privatize the profits.

While this is certainly valid, let’s expand that idea. Why are taxpayers forced to subsidize the voting preferences of people who donate to political candidates or parties? If a person wishes to support their local candidates, that is their choice. But how come the public has to provide tax breaks?

Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
Your donation should come from your wallet.
Practice what you preach.

And no, this article is not directed at any one party or politician. “ALL” parties and candidates should be forced to be self-sufficient. Stop reaching into the public purse to finance your campaigns.

4. Proposal In Winnipeg

Mayor Brian Bowman wants to end the practice of rebating Winnipeg election-campaign donations in a move one critic describes as a means of providing another advantage to incumbent candidates.

Bowman said in a notice of motion the city could save $700,000 by eliminating the rebates, stating “it is undesirable to fund election campaign expenses” and candidates should “solicit financial support from donors based on the strength of their platform rather than relying on taxpayer funds.

To be fair, there is some valid criticism that this will favour incumbents who are effectively able to campaign while under the pretext of doing their jobs.

However, taxpayers shouldn’t be forced help finance voting preferences. People who wish to make donations are free to do, but should use their own money. If a party platform is so unappealing that it needs taxpayer money to encourage donations, then it probably isn’t a very good one.

5. Ending The Per-Vote Subsidy

The NDP still hasn’t adapted to losing access to the per-vote party subsidy cancelled by the Harper government, the party’s treasurer said at the NDP convention in Ottawa Friday.

The federal Conservatives had phased out the per-vote subsidy by 2015, which was a party financing policy brought about in the Chretien-era that paid out public funds to parties based on their share of the popular vote.

Party Treasurer Tania Jarzebiak said the party plans to step up its fundraising with a “big push” on monthly giving and will invest more into its fundraising capacity, and has “ambitious plans” to reach an annual revenue target of $10.5 million.

Stephen Harper was criticized for this move, claiming it was designed to bankrupt smaller parties. It’s probably true, that the move ultimately benefitted the Conservative Party.

However, he should have ended all subsidies and tax breaks, not just pick and choose. If he truly cared about public money then those tax rebates would have been scrapped as well.

6. British Columbia

The credit is calculated as the lesser of:
1) The total of:
-75% of contributions up to $100
-50% of contributions between $100 and $550
-33 1/3% of contributions in excess of $550
2) $500

In B.C. taxpayers are on the hook for up to $500 for each person who contributes to B.C. political parties in a given year.

7. Alberta

According to Elections Alberta, the public has to pay up to $1000 in tax refunds to subsidize the voting preferences of people contributing to Provincial Candidates.

8. Saskatchewan

Taxpayers in Saskatchewan may be stuck with having to subsidize up to $650 for a resident’s political preferences. Seems that money could be better spent elsewhere.

9. Some Conclusions

The above listings are just a few examples of laws which force the public to help fund the donation choices of politically active people.

To be clear, I do not care whom you support, or what ideology the party or candidate is running on. The concern is that this subsidy amounts to corporate welfare, which we should not be paying. If the only way a person or party is able to finance a campaign is by bailouts with public money, then it probably isn’t very strong to begin with.

One final note: the common practice of “advertising” using taxpayer money is also abhorrent. True, incumbents do have an advantage in their ability to make announcements and fund plans to boost their image. That is not to be condoned either.