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Forum focuses on Chinese-Canada immigration
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June 24, 2002
The implications of China’s recent ascension to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and what it means for Chinese-Canada immigration sparked critical debate when academics, policy makers and business leaders from both China and Canada met in Beijing June 13-14.
Organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC) and the Centre for Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis (RIIM), the annual Roundtable Forum stimulates discussion on common bilateral immigration policy issues. This year’s event was hosted in cooperation with the Population and Development Studies Center at the Renmin University of China.
Participants examined the impact of China’s WTO ascension on the temporary migration of skilled workers, for both China and Canada. While skilled workers are in growing demand around the world, regulatory barriers continue to limit their mobility. Participants discussed the prospects for two-way flows of skilled workers between China and Canada as well as policy implications for both countries.
Participants also looked at the common concerns of both nations in upcoming WTO negotiations on trade in services, what kinds of skilled workers are in demand, how that demand can be met through temporary migration of workers, and how the two countries can cooperate.
RIIM director Don DeVoretz says the talks were frank and open. He expects China’s ascension to the WTO will create bilateral flows of immigrants with the greatest emphasis on temporary movers on both sides. "There’s a lot of controversy surrounding temporary immigration," say DeVoretz, an SFU economist and international immigration expert. That includes looming questions about whether temporary immigrants will stay and subsequent implications.
DeVoretz argues that current Canadian immigration legislation, as it relates to China, is "totally inadequate to withstand the pressures of the predicted growth in temporary immigration."
He adds: "This fact alone can thwart further trade growth between the two countries." DeVoretz is developing a new visa for Canadian policy makers which he says will enable trade between countries to flourish. The proposal would avoid pitfalls inherent in existing Canadian temporary visa legislation while recognizing the management challenges of an asymmetrical demand for visas.
The Roundtable began in 1999 and first took place in Shanghai, China with the cooperation of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. The second Roundtable brought scholars and policy makers to Vancouver. Details of this year’s event as well as previous APFC/RIIM Roundtables are available online.
DeVoretz has just returned from China and interviews can be arranged.
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CONTACT
Don DeVoretz, 604.291.4660; devoretz@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR,604.291.4323
Organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC) and the Centre for Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis (RIIM), the annual Roundtable Forum stimulates discussion on common bilateral immigration policy issues. This year’s event was hosted in cooperation with the Population and Development Studies Center at the Renmin University of China.
Participants examined the impact of China’s WTO ascension on the temporary migration of skilled workers, for both China and Canada. While skilled workers are in growing demand around the world, regulatory barriers continue to limit their mobility. Participants discussed the prospects for two-way flows of skilled workers between China and Canada as well as policy implications for both countries.
Participants also looked at the common concerns of both nations in upcoming WTO negotiations on trade in services, what kinds of skilled workers are in demand, how that demand can be met through temporary migration of workers, and how the two countries can cooperate.
RIIM director Don DeVoretz says the talks were frank and open. He expects China’s ascension to the WTO will create bilateral flows of immigrants with the greatest emphasis on temporary movers on both sides. "There’s a lot of controversy surrounding temporary immigration," say DeVoretz, an SFU economist and international immigration expert. That includes looming questions about whether temporary immigrants will stay and subsequent implications.
DeVoretz argues that current Canadian immigration legislation, as it relates to China, is "totally inadequate to withstand the pressures of the predicted growth in temporary immigration."
He adds: "This fact alone can thwart further trade growth between the two countries." DeVoretz is developing a new visa for Canadian policy makers which he says will enable trade between countries to flourish. The proposal would avoid pitfalls inherent in existing Canadian temporary visa legislation while recognizing the management challenges of an asymmetrical demand for visas.
The Roundtable began in 1999 and first took place in Shanghai, China with the cooperation of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. The second Roundtable brought scholars and policy makers to Vancouver. Details of this year’s event as well as previous APFC/RIIM Roundtables are available online.
DeVoretz has just returned from China and interviews can be arranged.
—30—
CONTACT
Don DeVoretz, 604.291.4660; devoretz@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR,604.291.4323