Last month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper outlined some changes to Canada’s immigration policies.
Immigration, in this case, is when someone comes from another country to live in Canada. People who want to move to Canada because of their work must apply and say what work they want to do when they get here.
Harper presented the immigration changes in January at a special meeting in Switzerland.
He said Canada will still look at all people who want to come to the country — including people who are in danger in their own homeland, and family members of people already here.
However, people with certain skills and money-making ideas will now top the list.
Younger workers, people who have already been offered a job in Canada and those who have the skills for the jobs that Canada needs done will be chosen first.
Harper didn’t say which skills are most needed in Canada, but it’s likely that he is referring to “trades,” such as chefs, carpenters, plumbers and car mechanics.
Immigration by itself won’t be able to fill all of the jobs that will be needed in Canada in the future.
Some people who represent a group of Canadian community colleges say that more First-Nations people, people with physical challenges and poorer immigrants who already live in Canada could fill some of the jobs we need.
They also want the federal government to give more money to community colleges for training.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
What are some of the reasons why people would want to immigrate to another country?
If someone wants to immigrate, should they automatically be let in another country? Should there be restrictions on how many people are allowed to immigrate? Should only certain types of people be allowed to immigrate based on the needs of the country?
Reading Prompt:
In order to understand what we read, one reading comprehension strategy that we use is questioning.
Before you read this article, write a list of questions based on the title of the article.
While you are reading, record the questions that help you to focus your thinking.
After you finish reading the article, ask questions about the topics discussed.
How do these questions help you to understand the article?
Junior
Identify a variety of reading comprehension strategies and use them appropriately before, during, and after reading to understand texts (OME, Reading: 1.3).
Intermediate
Identify a variety of reading comprehension strategies and use them appropriately before, during, and after reading to understand increasingly complex texts (OME, Reading: 1.3).
Grammar Feature: Alliteration
Alliteration is when words written or said in a row begin with the same sound. One instance of alliteration in the article is: Canadian community colleges.
Pick three different letters and create three separate sentences that include as many uses of alliteration as possible.
