Page 46 - Shahrvand BC No.1237

‹ English Section
highest absolute inequality of any Province in Canada –
meaning that even after we apply all the benefits of the
progressive tax system the bottom 20% of the population
owns 4% of the wealth and the top 20% owns 45%. That
is unsustainable for BC families and it is undermining
our economic competitiveness.
I’m very proud of the fact that our leader, Adrian Dix, is
talking about the issue of inequality and that narrowing
inequality while encouraging economic growth in the
private sector will be a focus of an NDP government.
And that’s a big contrast with the Christy Clark Liberals
whose policies have created this crisis of inequality.
Q: What particular new initiatives will the BCNDP
pursue to lessen this gap?
A: Some of our policy proposals will be released along
with our full platform in a few days. But already we have
made promises in a number of key areas - historically
more promises than any other party has ever made by
this stage of an election campaign.
We have emphasized, in particular, the importance of
education and skills training. We recognize that a well
educated and well trained population is key both to BC’s
economic competitiveness and to making a more equal
society.
We know that BC as a Province has amazing assets
that should guarantee our economic future: our diverse
population, our vast natural resources, our proximity to
American and Asian markets. But for years business and
industry has been telling government that despite these
advantages BC’s shortage of skilled and well educated
labour means that we will lose out economically. They
know, as we do, that 80% of the jobs of the future will
require skills training or an advanced education.
Unfortunately, the Christy Clark Liberals have cut $70
million from the Advanced Education and skills training
budget over the last two years – a process that began
when North Vancouver-Lonsdale’s current MLA, Naomi
Yamamoto, was Minister of Advanced Education.
For our part, we are proposing to re-invest $100 million
in student grants – not loans, but grants. We will do this
by re-instating a minimum tax on big banks and financial
institutions, something that is done in seven other
Provinces but that the BC Liberals eliminated in 2008.
These revenues will ensure that nobody who wants an
education and is qualified to get it will be denied it only democratic system we have here in Canada. And I know
by a lack of money.
This is not only good for the economy, it will also help
reduce inequality by helping people get the high skilled
jobs that can secure their place in a strong middle class.
This is about empowering people to guarantee their own
success and their own economic future and to help us as
a Province reduce the barriers of inequality.
We will also support this agenda through investments
in the public school system – ensuring that the proper
supports are in place for students with English as a
second language or other special needs so that everybody
in every class can reach their potential.
These are practical steps that we can take to change BC
for the better.
We will also be making announcements about
improvements to health care.
Finally, we have already made important announcements
about our environmental policy, the most important
piece of which is our opposition to the Enbridge pipeline
and the development of a made-in-BC environmental
review process.
Q: For the month of March, BC itself lost 22000 full
time jobs. What plan does your party have to create
jobs for British Columbians? Are you opposing the
US film industry in BC?
A: We are deeply concerned about the Christy Clark
Liberals’ failed “Jobs Plan.” Since the BC Liberals
announced the plan, job losses have continued to
mount and the government has failed to do anything
to change that.
It is also a plan that, I think, fails to take seriously its Do you see any opening soon in this regard?
own stated aim to protect jobs that already exist. A
classic example is in regards to the film industry that, as
you know, is very important to the BC economy and to
the North Shore in particular. Premier Clark’s “BC Jobs
Plan” did not even mention the film industry or other
aspects of the “creative” sector such as digital media –
areas where BC has excelled for almost two decades.
More than that, the BCNDP launched a freedom of
information request that shows that the government
purposely ignored film and creative in the Jobs Plan.
The BC Liberals have continued to ignore the pleas of
business leaders and workers in this sector for support –
and they’ve insulted the industry by describing the same
kinds of tax credits used in every other jurisdiction in
North America as a “subsidy” and then spending $11
million on a Bollywood festival.
We’ve listened and we’ve promised an extension of
the BC film tax credit program that will help support
the industry and help preserve and expand the high-
skilled family supporting jobs that the creative industries
support.
I’m not opposed to the US film industry in BC. On the
contrary, I encourage US investments in BC film. The
problem is that the BC Liberals just don’t recognize how
important that investment is for our local economy and
the BC economy as a whole.
The BC Liberals have also failed to take seriously
the local shipbuilding industry. While the federal
government invests in shipbuilding, the BC Liberals
allowed the new Seabus to be built in Singapore rather
than at Allied Shipyards in North Vancouver. Now, none
of the economic spin off benefits from the $25 million
will be spent in BC – and we will lose the jobs that might
come with it.
All of this is the sign of a BC Liberal government that
has the wrong priorities and the wrong solutions for BC.
And it is a sign of the important need for change in BC.
Q: What does all this mean for the Iranian-Canadian
community in particular?
A: I think this agenda is particularly relevant for Iranian-
Canadians. I know that most Iranians have come to
Canada to escape a regime that regularly violates human
rights and that does not support anything like the kind of
that they choose Canada precisely because they view it
as a land of freedom and opportunity.
But I hear two things from my Iranian friends about their
experience here. First, they tell me that there are people
closely associated with the regime in Iran who are
resident here in BC who try to intimidate new arrivals
here and to limit their freedom. While the BCNDP does
not have policy on this as a local MLA I want to work
with the community on this issue.
Second, I know all sorts of people from Iran who are
trained as doctors, engineers, nurses, and in other
professions who are not able to practice their profession
here and, instead, are working at retail jobs or driving
cabs because their foreign credentials are not recognized
here. This is particularly cruel because the federal
government specifically encourages immigrants under
the “professional” class.
This situation is a huge loss for both for Canada and
new Canadians. And alongside our efforts to provide
skills training and advanced education for families, we
need to work with professional bodies on the issue of
recognizing foreign credentials. Again, by doing so we
will help Iranian Canadians find a secure economic place
in Canada. And this is what we should be doing. Canada,
after all, is a country built on immigration and we need
to continue to support new immigrants for everybody’s
benefit.
Q: Harper government’s abrupt relations cut with
Iranian government and the closure of Iranian
embassy has caused a lot of problems for Iranian-
Canadians regarding their consulate affairs.
461392 ‫ تشهبیدرا‬13 ‫ جمعه‬- 1237 ‫ شماره‬/ ‫سال متسیب‬
A: Our focus is not on foreign policy issues and the In touch with Iranian diversity 46
Province has no direct role in determining the extent or
character of Canada’s relations with foreign countries. Vol. 20 / No. 1237 - Friday, May 3, 2013
Having said that, I, too, hear about the difficulties being
experienced by Iranian-Canadian families and student
visa holders. The change in Canada’s relations with
Iran have made it much more difficult to maintain links
between families here and in Iran and we have all heard
of students whose studies at BC universities have been
put at risk by these changes. So whatever position the
federal government takes in terms of its diplomatic
relations with Iran, I think we need to work out some
practical mechanisms to ensure that families are not
unduly impacted by these decisions.
Thanks you.
ASHTON COLLEGEACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS FROM NEW
IMMIGRANTS FOR 2013 LILIAN
TO BURSARIES
Vancouver, BC: Ashton College is now accepting
applications for the Lilian To Bursaries from new Canadian
immigrants who would like to improve their education and
pursue a more fulfilling career.
The bursaries, presented in partnership with Canadian
Immigrant Magazine, will be awarded to four outstanding
students and cover full-time tuition for a range of Ashton
College programs.
Newcomers to Canada often face seemingly insurmountable
barriers when it comes to job searching in their adopted
country. Unable to secure a role matching their level of
education and expertise, many recent immigrants are unable
to gain relevant Canadian work experience. And with college
fees costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, many
people do not have the option of returning to school to
upgrade their skills.
Often, the only obstacle between an immigrant and
employment is recognized credentials. That’s why Ashton
College is offering new immigrants the chance to advance
their career prospects, embark upon exciting opportunities,
fuel their self-worth and empower them to achieve their
highest potential.
For Lourena Dicdiquin, her career transformed when she
received a Lilian To Bursary in 2008. Like many immigrants,
Lourena moved to Canada searching for greener pastures,
only to discover that her degree was not recognized here.
She credits the bursary and Ashton College’s Human
Resources Management program with enabling her to retrain
in her field and gain hands-on skills.
“It was life-changing,” she says. “It gave me so much
knowledge about the workplace in Canada and it was a
wonderful experience.”
Last year’s winner, Melissa Remulla-Briones, immigrated
from the Philippines to provide her children with more
opportunities, which is why she used her bursary to pursue
an Immigration Consultant Diploma.
“It was a way for me to obtain what I want for my family,
which is to have a better life,” she says. “When I won, I was
like, ‘Wow, I’m a step closer to my dream.’ It gave me the
push that things will be better for us in Canada.”
The bursaries honour the life of Lilian To, who was a crusader
for immigrants as the long-time executive director and CEO
of SUCCESS, a multi-service community organization that
provides assistance to new immigrants. To died suddenly of a
heart attack 2005 and the bursaries ensure that her work with
immigrants continues by addressing the challenges they face
when trying to secure a stable career in Canada.
For more information about the submission requirements for
the Lilian To Bursaries, visitwww.ashtoncollege.com/grants.